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Muslim Brotherhood speak on Murabak Jr.

CAIRO, May 15 (UPI) -- Egypt's outlawed Muslim Brotherhood Organization will accept the presidential candidacy of Hosni Mubarak's son, Jamal, if he lives like an average citizen.

The group's spiritual guide, Mohammed Mehdi Akef, was quoted Monday on the Organization's Web site "Brothers Online" as saying: "If Jamal Mubarak wants to run as president of the republic he should meet at least three conditions, notably leave the presidential palace, live among the regular citizens and help amend articles 76 and 77 of the constitution."

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Akef stressed that "these are our conditions to accept his candidature, because only then he will be like any other Egyptian citizen."

Akef rejected the idea of "inheritance" of the presidency in Egypt and denied that any deal has been concluded with the government to accept the principle of bequeathing the presidential post.

The Brotherhood's spiritual guide said the group is not considering setting up a political party under the existing conditions of the emergency law and restrictions imposed on political groups by the so-called committee of political parties.

"The Brotherhood will not form a political party under these conditions," he said.

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Mubarak, who was re-elected for a fourth seven-year term last September, has denied on several occasions any plan to bequeath his post to his son, who holds the post of deputy secretary-general in Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party.

The opposition believes that the amending of article 76 of the constitution, which allowed multi-candidate presidential elections last year while placing many conditions on candidature, favored Jamal Mubarak.

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