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Egypt labels Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group

Arab World Materials 25 December 2013 20:25 (UTC +04:00)
The Egyptian government Wednesday labeled the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group, state television reported, a move set to widen the rift between the military-installed rulers and the Islamist group, dpa reported.
Egypt labels Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group

The Egyptian government Wednesday labeled the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group, state television reported, a move set to widen the rift between the military-installed rulers and the Islamist group, dpa reported.

The decision, which was made at a cabinet meeting according to the report, means that Brotherhood members can be tried by law as terrorists.

"The law will be applied to everyone joining the group's activities," said Higher Education Minister Hossam Issa, who announced the decision after the meeting.

He added that the decision had been taken after a deadly attack on Tuesday in northern Egypt, which the minister alleged had been carried out by the Brotherhood.

Sixteen people, mainly policemen, were killed in the bombing that targeted a police headquarters in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura.

The Brotherhood condemned the attack and accused the government of further inciting unrest in the country.

Ansar Beit al-Maqdas, an al-Qaeda-linked group, claimed responsibility for the Mansoura bombing in a statement that has not been independently verified.

In September, an Egyptian court outlawed the Brotherhood and froze its assets.

Hundreds of people have been killed in Egypt's violence since July when the army deposed president Mohammed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

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