Supporters of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, the country's largest opposition group, have staged a huge rally in the port city of Alexandria, defying a strict ban on election campaigning by the group.

It came after at least 1,200 Muslim Brotherhood supporters and activists were arrested in a government crackdown on the group ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, Egyptian courts have ordered the cancellation of the vote in 24 districts in Alexandria after the government ignored orders to reinstate opposition and independent candidates barred from contesting the polls.

Jacky Rowland reports from Alexandria, where the group was founded.