Egypt Proposes Dissolution Of The Muslim Brotherhood

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi has proposed the legal dissolution of the Muslim Brotherhood and the government is studying the idea, a government spokesman said on Saturday (August 17).

According to the health ministry, 173 people died on Friday in violence that erupted when security forces cracked down on Islamists protesting against the army's removal of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Mursi last month.

Beblawi had made the proposal to the minister of social affairs - the ministry responsible for licensing non-governmental organisations, spokesman Sherif Shawky said.

"Of course we must find a legal route to the dissolution of this group, and this is being studied currently," he said.

Speaking to reporters, el-Beblawi said there was no chance of forgiveness for those who had hurt Egypt.

"There is no reconciliation with those whose hands are covered in blood. There is no reconciliation for anyone who has raised arms against the country, against its people. There is no reconciliation with those who have broken the law," he told reporters.

The Brotherhood was dissolved by Egypt's military rulers in 1954, but registered itself as a non-governmental organisation in March in a response to a court case brought by opponents of the group who were contesting its legality.

The Brotherhood, founded in 1928, also has a legally registered political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party, which was set up in 2011 after the uprising that led to the downfall of veteran autocrat Hosni Mubarak.