Muslim Brotherhood takes lead in Egypt's assembly

CAIRO, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- With Islamist parties dominating Egyptian politics, the British foreign secretary said London was standing by as an ally in the transition to democracy.

Mohamed Saad el-Katatni was appointed as the speaker of the Egyptian People's Assembly during its first post-revolution session, Egyptian news agency al-Ahram reports.

Katatni is the former secretary-general of the Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. He beat Esssam Sultan from the Islamist Wasat Party by more than 300 votes in the election for speaker.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague, in a statement, said London was an ally to Egypt as it coped with the challenges of political transition.

"Britain will continue to be a close friend and strong partner to the Egyptian people as they consolidate the country's transition to democracy," he said.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said after wrapping up a visit to Egypt last week that Washington accepted the role of Islamist parties in the country.

The Muslim Brotherhood took 20 percent of the seats in the legislative assembly by running as independent candidates in 2005. They were barred from open political activity during the Hosni Mubarak era and were wiped off the political map in elections just before the country's 2011 revolution.

"The historic elections for the People's Assembly, now almost complete, are an important step in building a prosperous and stable future for the new Egypt," said Hague.