Mahdi Akef, General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) opposition group, accused the Egyptian regime of "conspiring" against Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, which was democratically elected in 2006 by the Palestinian people. At a meeting of MB leaders on Tuesday, Akef also said that the group was capable of mobilizing "thousands" to demonstrate in solidarity with Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque. Describing the Egyptian regime as being "marred with corruption and tyranny like never before," Akef condemned the government's "shameful" position regarding recent Israeli violations of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound. "Egypt is against international resolutions calling for an end to the siege of Gaza," Akef said. "It is even helping the Zionists and Americans by keeping the Rafah border crossing [between Egypt and the Gaza Strip] tightly sealed." Asked about recent internal divisions within the MB over the proposed appointment of reformist Essam el-Erian to the group's authoritative Guidance Bureau, Akef said: "The corrupt regime, hoping to divide our ranks, caused the problem. But we came out of it even stronger." As to why his first deputy, Muhammad Habib, did not attend the meeting, Akef said: "He was just with me a short while ago, and there's no problem between us if he doesn't attend." For his part, El-Erian said he had been unable to attend the meeting due to his participation in an event held by the Egyptian Medical Association at the same time. MB Secretary-General Mahmoud Ezzat said the meeting was convened with the aim of sending a message to the United States and Israel that "all Egyptians stand against Israel's recent storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque." "Washington and Tel Aviv want us to be a divided people," said Ezzat. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
