US official denies meeting with Muslim Brotherhood

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A top US Democratic congressman said he did not have "personal meetings" with a member of Egypt's largest opposition group, the banned Muslim Brotherhood, during a recent official trip, a spokeswoman for the American lawmaker said Sunday. US House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's spokeswoman, Stacey Bernards, said the Maryland Democrat and his bipartisan delegation participated in a meeting Thursday with members of Egypt's parliament including Mohammed Saad el-Katatni, leader of the Brotherhood's parliamentary bloc. "However, the delegation, including Mr. Hoyer, did not have personal meetings with al-Katatni," Bernards said. El-Katatni told The Associated Press Sunday that he and Hoyer had met twice - once at the parliament and again at the reception at Ambassador Francis Ricciardone's home.