Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Elects New Leaders

Egypt’s opposition Muslim Brotherhood has elected new leadership in a vote that analysts say reveals deep divisions in the group.

Sixteen members were elected to its governing council, most of whom are conservatives.

Notably, the group’s deputy leader Mohammed Seyed Habib and a leading reformist, Abdel-Moneim Abul-Futuh, were not elected.

Analysts say the new election has intensified the rift between the group’s conservative and moderate factions.  The perceived divisions may affect the group’s success in parliamentary elections next year.

The Muslim Brotherhood is officially banned from Egyptian politics.  But its members, running as independents, have won one-fifth of the seats in parliament, making them the largest opposition bloc in the assembly.

The organization advocates establishing an Islamic government in Egypt.  It renounced violence in the 1970s and has participated in every election since then.
 

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.