Ghannouchi meets Egypt Brotherhood leader

The leader of Tunisia's ruling Islamist party, Rachid Ghannouchi, on Sunday met the General Guide of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Badeei, and other Brotherhood leaders on a visit to Cairo. The meeting was held in the headquarters of the Brotherhood's Guidance Bureau in the Moqattam district, and lasted for more than an hour, as the Islamist leaders discussed the latest developments in both Egypt and Tunisia. Sources told Arabstoday that the Brotherhood leaders asked Ghannouchi about the results of Egyptian expatriate vote in Tunisia in the run-off round of Egypt's presidential elections, which allegedly saw a majority voting for Ahmed Shafiq rather than the Brotherhood's candidate Mohammed Morsi. This issue was seen by the Brotherhood as a sign of deterioration in the popularity of Ghannouchi's ruling Ennahda party in Tunisia, which supposedly shares almost the same ideology and beliefs of the Brotherhood. The attendees also discussed recent attacks against the Brotherhood, apparently by the media and representatives of Egypt's judiciary, in addition to the preparations of the presidential run-offs planned for June 16-17, as well as future cooperation between the two parties in case the Brotherhood candidate managed to take over the top political position in Egypt. Sources within the Tunisian embassy in Cairo told Arabstoday the embassy was not informed about Ghannouchi's visit, which should last for a few days. Ghannouchi himself had left the Brotherhood's headquarters from  a back door, in order to avoid talking to journalists, upon a recommendation from the Brotherhood leaders.