EGYPT: Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has called on its followers to participate fully in the country's forthcoming presidential elections, but urged them not to vote for president Hosni Mubarak.
A statement issued yesterday by Mohamed Mahdi Akef, the brotherhood's spiritual leader, provided an unusually unequivocal position for the movement. It followed intense speculation over the brotherhood's intentions concerning Egypt's first contested presidential elections, on September 7th, and a debate within the movement over a possible boycott.
The brotherhood has survived as the country's best organised opposition force despite having been banned for over half a century, as well as wider restrictions on political activity during Mr Mubarak's 24-year rule.
But a dramatic shift in the political climate in Egypt over the past year has placed the movement under strain. Increasingly critical reporting in the independent press, and a small but vocal series of protests from liberals and the left, have placed it under pressure to be more outspoken.
This in turn has accentuated divisions between a younger generation, calling for more open confrontation with the regime, and older brotherhood members who favour the gradual indoctrination of society and fear confrontation comes at too high a cost.
The brotherhood was in effect barred from running its own candidates in the polls by conditions that made it next to impossible for independents to stand. But its influence in society as the country's main Islamist group has encouraged other opposition candidates - in a field of nine - to seek its endorsement.
Mr Mubarak is expected to win the elections easily. But he is under pressure from the US, as well as domestic public opinion, to preside over a reasonably transparent process.
In yesterday's statement, Mr Akef declined to endorse any one candidate, but cautioned Egyptians against supporting or co-operating with "an oppressor or a corrupt tyrant" - a reference, said brotherhood officials, to Mr Mubarak. He urged them, however, to "bear their responsibilities fully and practise their constitutional rights".
These included participating in the elections, despite shortcomings, in the way they have been organised.
Some local media had suggested that the leadership was prepared to do a deal with the government in return for political favours, including the release of some of its most prominent leaders, jailed following demonstrations earlier this year.
- (Financial Times service)