Egypt urges international condemnation of brotherhood 'criminal acts'

Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on Saturday briefed envoys of world powers about "criminal acts," carried out by activists and followers of the Muslim Brotherhood. According to an official statement, Fahmy received ambassadors of permanent member states of the Security Council, informing them about the "random and criminal acts, perpetrated by armed gangs against the citizens, as well as their attacks on churches, public facilities and hospitals." He criticized "silence of the international community and abstention from condemning these criminal acts. "Such silence encourages the terrorist groups to carry on with violent and deadly action." Meanwhile, police dispersed a gathering of supporters of the ousted president, Mohamed Morsi, at Ramsis piaza after policemen, positioned in its vicinity, were targeted with gunfire. The state-run media reported that policemen prevented foes of pro-Morsi activists who were leaving Al-Fateh mosque from attacking them. State-run media reported Prime Minister Dr. Hazem Al-Beblawi has asked Minister of Social Solidarity Ahmad Al-Burei to examine legal basis for prospected dissolution of the Muslim Brotherhood organization. However, Sherif Shawqi, the premiership information advisor, indicated at a news conference that the government was pondering prospects for "national conciliation." The Muslim Brotherhood group, founded in 1928, came to power a year ago when its leader Mohamed Morsi was elected as president of the republic. The Brotherhood surged to power after decades of being a banned group in Egypt.