Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood urges boycott of municipal elections

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood group is urging supporters to boycott municipal elections this week after a government crackdown on its members. The group says more than 1,000 of its members and potential candidates have been arrested in recent months. In a statement issued Monday, it accuses the ruling National Democratic Party of trying to prevent thousands of Brotherhood members from running for local offices. Since registration for local balloting began March 4, few of the 10,000 Brotherhood hopefuls have managed to officially register as candidates. The Brotherhood is Egypt's largest opposition group and is banned by the government, but its members have won some parliament seats by running as independents.