Two leading members of the Muslim Brotherhood left jail Saturday, six months after they were detained during a wave of pro-reform demonstrations. But Essam El-Erian and Mohammed Morsi are not entirely free, according to an official from the prosecutor s office. Each is required to inform authorities of his movement within Egypt and is prohibited from traveling abroad, the official said on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to give statements to the media. Both are former lawmakers. El-Erian, a medical doctor by training, described his release as a surprising decision. The pair was among more than 500 members detained by authorities in May when several demonstrations were held in support of two reformist judges facing disciplinary hearings. El-Erian said that even though he was treated well during his incarceration, It was a very long time... Even one day in prison seems a long time. He intends to appeal the restrictions placed on his freedom, he said in a telephone interview. El-Erian was jailed for several months in 2005 for belonging to a banned group and before that for five years during the 1990s. The organization, which is believed to have tens of thousands of followers, won nearly a fifth of the seats in parliament during last year s elections, making it the largest opposition group. It was founded in 1928 and banned in 1954.
