Egypt Quells Protests by Banned Party
A senior leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood was arrested along with 200 other members of the outlawed opposition party as they clashed with security forces Friday, government and party officials said.
Essam Erian and three other senior members were arrested and accused of “disturbing public security and spreading subversive thought,” party spokesman Badr Mohamed Badr said.
Friday’s clashes erupted as security forces moved to squash planned demonstrations after weekly prayers in four cities, including Cairo. Protesters were seeking political change.
A Muslim Brotherhood supporter died in the Nile Delta town of Talkha after inhaling tear gas fired by riot police, Badr said.
The ministry said the man had died in a stampede outside a mosque while security forces were trying to disperse the brotherhood activists.
The party said nearly 2,000 of its supporters had been arrested during a nationwide crackdown this week, but the Interior Ministry said that number was too high.
At least 400 were arrested during protests in several cities Wednesday.
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