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Egypt's opposition to boycott by-elections

CAIRO, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Two of Egypt's powerful opposition groups, the banned Muslim Brotherhood and al-Wafd Party, said Sunday they plan to boycott the by-election.

The by-election is set to vote for 20 new members in the 454-seat Egyptian National Assembly.

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A Muslim Brotherhood leader, Issam al-Iryan, told United Press International that his movement did not intend on fielding candidates because it did not believe "there is a real democratic opportunity because of the government's control over these elections."

Al-Wafd Party also announced Sunday it did not intend to participate in the by-election because it did not recognize the "legitimacy of the polls to be conducted in these districts." It accused the ruling National Democratic Party of trying to "control" the constituencies.

The by-election would fill seats left by four deaths and the resignation of 16 legislators after the government nullified their membership on the grounds that they dodged the military draft.

The opposition parties accused the government of forcing the resignations without a vote in the National Assembly with the aim of preventing opposition candidates from fielding their candidates and allowing the ruling party a greater opportunity to win seats.

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The Muslim Brotherhood, although officially banned in Egypt, occupies 17 seats, while al-Wafd has only three in a National Assembly that is dominated by the ruling party.

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