Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie (Photo: Reuters)
The Muslim Brotherhood has announced that the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) has refused its initiative of issuing a new coalition government. Instead, the Brotherhood report, the SCAF has insisted that current Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri's cabinet will continue to lead the country through the transition period.
According to the statement issued by the group on Wednesday, their proposal to appoint a new interim government came as a reaction to the security handling of an Ahly-Masry match in Port Said that saw the deaths of at least 74 football supporters. The group's statement explained that Egypt needed a strong government to back the people and to ensure those responsible for the tragedy were held to account.
The Brotherhood's supreme guide, Mohamed Badie, had confirmed on Tuesday that the group's political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), planned to form a government before the end of the transitional period in June.
His comments, published on the group's Ikhwanonline website, are particularly significant as this is the first time a senior member of the Brotherhood has spoken on the issue. The group formerly supported the SCAF-appointed government.
Badie said his statement was also a response to accusations that the FJP was unwilling to fulfil its responsibility as the largest party in Parliament. He insisted that the FJP would form a government representing a variety of political parties.
Badie also added that the Brotherhood would not be nominating its own presidential candidate due to fears the candidate would be opposed because of his political affiliation.
The group has yet to declare its preferred presidential candidate.
Commenting on recent legal action against US funded non-governmental organisations, Badie said the issue should be left in the judiciary's hands and insisted he had faith in the country's legal system. He also added that the West should respect Egypt's institutions.
The Brotherhood leader spoke whilst casting his vote for the Shura Council (upper house) elections in his home town of Beni Soueif.
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