The Interior Ministry has issued a travel ban on the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) opposition movement's newly-elected general guide, Mohamed Badie, along with certain members of the group's authoritative Guidance Bureau. While the ban does not extend to bureau members that are also sitting members of parliament, State Security has nevertheless accused some MB-affiliated MPs of engaging in "organizational activities" abroad. "Only the Attorney-General can issue travel bans, not the interior ministry" protested MB lawyer Abdel Moneim Abdel Maqsoud, stressing the travel ban constituted a violation of the law. In a related development, Badie this week made a number of major group appointments, including Mahmoud Ezzat as his first deputy; Rashad el-Bayoumy as second deputy; and Gomaa Amin as third deputy. He also maintained Khayrat el-Shater, currently serving a prison term, as the group's deputy general guide. Although the general guide has traditionally served as the MB's primary spokesman, Badie also appointed Mohamed Morsy, Mohamed el-Katatny and Essam el-Erian as auxiliary spokesmen for the group. According to el-Katatny, Badie plans to assign Guidance Bureau members with specific tasks next week. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
