Muslim Brotherhood says it will not run for presidency

Egyptian group announces it will not seek to get majority in the parliament; praises efforts of new army rulers to transfer power.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Muslim Brotherhood press conference 311 AP (photo credit: AP)
Muslim Brotherhood press conference 311 AP
(photo credit: AP)
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood said Saturday that it will not run for the presidency and will not seek to get a majority in the parliament. The announcement was an attempt to reaffirm that it was not seeking power in the Egyptian parliament.
The group praised the efforts of the new army rulers to transfer power to civilians.
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"The Muslim Brotherhood ... are not seeking personal gains, so they announce they will not run for the presidency and will not seek to get a majority in the parliament and that they consider themselves servants of these decent people," a statement read.
"We support and value the sound direction that the Higher Military Council is taking on the way to transfer power peacefully to create a civilian government in line with the will of the people," the statement continued.
Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt
Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt
During the week, members of Congress warned about the risk posed by the Muslim Brotherhood’s participation in a new Egyptian government and scolded the Obama administration for suggesting an openness to the Islamic group having some role in its composition.
“The Muslim Brotherhood had nothing to do with driving these protests, and they and other extremists must not be allowed to hijack the movement toward democracy and freedom in Egypt,” declared Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, at the start of a hearing Wednesday.