Muslim Brotherhood says no backing down

CAIRO, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt said Wednesday it would not back away from its demands for the reinstatement of Mohamed Morsi as president.

The military removed Morsi from power July 3 following weeks of political unrest in Egypt. He became the first president ever elected by a democratic vote in Egyptian history last year but faced mounting pressure for his Islamic ideologies and failure to address the country's economic woes.

The interim government banned the Muslim Brotherhood. Morsi ran as a candidate under the organization's Freedom and Justice political party.

Catherine Ashton, the top foreign policy chief for the European Union, arrived Wednesday in Cairo to meet interim leaders and members of the Freedom and Justice Party. She expressed concern earlier this year about the government's crackdown against Morsi's supporters.

Several high-ranking Brotherhood members are behind bars. The organization issued a statement on its English-language Ikhwanweb site, saying it was undeterred.

"The group remains undivided," it said. "Through its well-established institutions and legitimate leadership, it remains steadfast in the performance of its mission."

The Brotherhood added the regime was putting on a false front of diplomacy during Ashton's visit. It said it continued to demand Morsi, himself behind bars, be reinstated as president.