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          Kerry 'Concerned' at Egypt's Crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood

   The United States` top diplomat is expressing renewed concern at the
   Egyptian military-backed government`s expanded crackdown on the Muslim
   Brotherhood.
   Police rounded up dozens of Brotherhood members Thursday after the
   government declared the group a terrorist organization and announced
   stiff new restrictions on those who support it.
   The interim government has blamed the Islamist group for a wave of
   violence, including Tuesday`s car bombing at a police headquarters in
   the Nile delta town of Mansoura that killed 15 people.
   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemned that attack, as well as a
   Thursday bus bombing in Cairo that wounded five people. But he also
   told his Egyptian counterpart Nabil Fahmy in a phone call he is
   concerned at the terrorist designation, and recent detentions and
   arrests.
   The State Department says Kerry "underscored the need for an inclusive
   political process across the political spectrum that respects the
   fundamental human rights of all Egyptians in order to achieve political
   stability and democratic change."
   The Brotherhood denies involvement in the attacks, some of which have
   been claimed by Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, a hardline Islamist group. It
   says it is committed to peacefully restoring Islamist President Mohamed
   Morsi, who was ousted by the military following mass protests in July.
   Kerry has in recent months said the ouster of Mr. Morsi, Egypt`s first
   democratically elected president, was necessary to restore democracy.
   But he has also criticized the widening campaign against the
   Brotherhood, the country`s largest and most organized political group.
   Over 1,000 people, mainly Islamist supports of Mr. Morsi, have been
   killed in the crackdown. Thousands more members of the Brotherhood,
   including most of its top leaders, leaders have been arrested.
   On Thursday, the Egyptian Interior Ministry said a five year prison
   sentence will be given to anyone who joins a Muslim Brotherhood march,
   promotes the group verbally or in writing, or is caught with its
   publications or recordings.
   But the moves seem to have done little to stop the near-daily protests
   calling for Mr. Morsi`s reinstatement. Late Thursday, Egyptian
   officials said one person was killed in the Nasr City district of Cairo
   during clashes between supporters and opponents of Mr. Morsi.
   Meanwhile, state media say authorities arrested 16 Brotherhood
   activists Thursday in the Nile delta province of Sharkiya on suspicion
   of promoting the group`s ideology, distributing leaflets, and inciting
   violence against the army and police.
   At least 18 others were arrested or detained across the country for
   belonging to the group.
   The unrest comes ahead of a referendum next month on a new constitution
   that is billed by the military as part of a democratic transition ahead
   of elections for a new parliament and president.
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   n-muslim-brotherhood/1818353.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-concerned-at-egypts-crackdown-on-muslim-brotherhood/1818353.html