Free Egyptians party, a liberal party recently founded by Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris, sacked five of its members in a dispute over democratic processes within the organization.

In recent days, an opposition group inside the party, which called itself the “Group of 17,” led a campaign that accused the national leadership of using undemocratic means in selecting local leaders in the northern governorate of Damiat.

One of those sacked members, Mohamed Lazoghli, said that Free Egyptians was welcoming former members of Mubarak’s National Democratic Party into key positions in the party.

Meanwhile, party officials denied the accusations of undemocratic practices and issued a statement calling the sacked members “troublemakers.”