CAIRO — Egypt should not ban the Muslim Brotherhood or exclude it from the political process after the army's overthrow of Mohamed Morsi, the interim prime minister said Tuesday, in a softening of state rhetoric against the Islamist group. The apparent U-turn adds to speculation that the government is beginning to prepare for a possible political settlement to the crisis. Hazem El-Beblawi proposed on Aug. 17 that the Arab World's oldest and arguably best organized Islamist group should be dissolved, and said the government was studying the idea. He made the proposal to the minister of social affairs, who is responsible for licensing non-governmental organizations. In an interview with state media late on Tuesday, Beblawi appeared to row back, saying the government would instead monitor the group and its political wing and that the actions of its members would determine its fate. “Dissolving the party or the group is not the solution and it is wrong to make decisions in turbulent situations,” the state news agency MENA quoted Beblawi as saying. “It is better for us to monitor parties and groups in the framework of political action without dissolving them or having them act in secret.” Founded in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood was dissolved by Egypt's military rulers in 1954. Though still outlawed during the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak, the group ran a charitable network and its members ran as independents in limited elections. After decades of operating in the shadows and winning support with its charities and preaching, the Brotherhood registered itself as a non-governmental organization in March in response to a court case brought by opponents of the group who were contesting its legality. 60 held in new crackdown Security officials say police have detained more than 60 supporters and members of the Muslim Brotherhood over the past 24 hours, including relatives of top leaders. Officials, speaking anonymously in line with regulations, said Wednesday that they arrested Saad El-Shater, the 23-year-old son of the Brotherhood's imprisoned deputy leader and financier Khairat El-Shater. The elder El-Shater is charged in relation to the killings of protesters outside the group's headquarters in June. Also detained was the brother-in-law of fugitive Brotherhood figure Mohammed El-Beltagy on charges he incited violent protests. — Agencies
