Egypt freezes assets of Brotherhood leaders

Egypt’s interim government has ordered the assets of more than 500 Muslim Brotherhood and Islamist leaders seized, senior judicial and security officials say.

Tuesday’s announcement came as the military pledged to confront “the forces of terrorism and darkness” and protect the upcoming January 14-15 vote on Egypt’s draft constitution.

Hazem el-Beblawi, prime minister, called on Egyptians to head to the polls as their “top national duty”, saying that a “heavy turnout” is the only guarantee of a successful vote.

Abdel-Azzem el-Ashri, a Justice Ministry spokesman, said on Tuesday that a ministerial inventory committee ordered the “movable and immovable properties” of 572 Muslim Brotherhood leaders seized.

Another Justice Ministry official said leaders on the list included toppled President Mohamed Morsi and his family, as well as provincial Brotherhood leaders and members of its General Guidance Bureau, which is the group’s executive body.

A security official said the list also included female Muslim Brotherhood members like Azza el-Garf and wife of leader Khairat el-Shater and his daughter.

He said other Islamist leaders include Assem Abdel-Maged, the leader of Gamaa Islamiyah, which waged an anti-government insurgency in 1990s against former President Hosni Mubarak.

The two officials said that the list includes those indicted in cases of inciting violence and those are under investigation or could be investigated.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to journalists.