Egypt arrests 12 Muslim Brotherhood members

CAIRO: Egyptian authorities on Monday detained 12 members of the Muslim Brotherhood for hanging religious campaign posters in the run-up to elections for parliament's upper house, a security official said.   

"Twelve supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood candidates have been arrested in two provinces including Giza," the official said.   

"They were caught hanging up posters with Islamic messages, which goes against the constitution," the official said.   

Supporters for candidates running in the June 11 elections for the Shura Council were hanging posters and handing out leaflets with 'Islamic messages' including the Brotherhood slogan 'Islam is the solution', the official said.   

Constitutional amendments approved in March have banned any political activity based on religion.   

In a statement on its website, the Muslim Brotherhood accused the government of trying to "eliminate the opposition".   

"The Egyptian government continues what is becoming a daily crackdown against activists affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and their supporters ahead of the upcoming Shura Council elections on June 11," the statement read.   

The Muslim Brotherhood, which is officially banned, controls one fifth of the seats in the lower house of parliament after it fielded candidates as "independents" in the 2005 legislative elections.