Young members of the Muslim Brotherhood are objecting to the appointment of several leading group figures to senior roles within the newly-created Freedom and Justice Party. Their objections reflect tensions within the Brotherhood as it seeks to clarify the character and leadership of the official political party. The young members object to the appointment of Mohamed Morsi as president, Essam al-Eryan as vice president and Saad al-Katatny as secretary general. The appointment of the three senior Brotherhood figures represents interference in the new party's internal affairs, they say. However, Brotherhood member Mohsen Radi said that the appointments are in line with correct procedure, and will not harm the independence of the Freedom and Justice Party. "The group owns the party, and it has the right to choose its leaders," he said. "Once the party stands on its feet, it can elect its leadership.” Group member Hamdi Hassan also supported the choices. “They were appointed by the Shura Council, the highest authority in the group,” he said. He added that the party would maintain its independence from the Brotherhood, and the three appointees have resigned from the Guidance Bureau. For his part, young Brotherhood member Mohamed al-Qassas said the Shura Council did not take into account the opinions of the party's founders. “Many of the founders will withdraw their memberships from the party,” he said. Mohamed Morsi said that his appointment only would be for a transition period of four years. “After that, the party's general conference can call for new elections,” he explained. Ammar Hassan, head of the research department of the Middle East News Agency, said the party's legality could be contested because the group has international affiliations, while the law stipulates that political parties must remain local operations. “Also, the group has scout formations, which could imply that the party has a military wing and thus could be dissolved,” he said. In related news, Muslim Brotherhood member Sobhi Saleh said the group rejected a US offer to guarantee it a place in Egypt's 2005 government, in return for its recognition of the state of Israel. Speaking at a symposium on Tuesday, Saleh countered claims that the group is seeking to the rule the country. He said that Egypt's problems are too big for one political group to handle. Translated from the Arabic Edition
