CAIRO, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The Muslim Brotherhood, the main opposition group in Egypt, has accused the government of rigging the upcoming elections.
Mohammed Mursi, a senior Brotherhood official, told a press conference "the violence against opposition candidates" proves the authorities are "falsifying the will of Egyptians," Middle East Online quoted him saying.
Saad al-Katatni, another senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood, said: "What is going on with these elections is beyond imagination. What is under way is the effective rigging of the elections."
The group, which has registered its candidates as independents to bypass a government ban on religious parties running in the elections, is fielding 130 candidates for the 508 seats in Parliament, the Web site said.
Egyptian civil society groups have threatened to boycott the elections, the Web site said.
Hafez Abu Saeda, head of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, said poll observers were being required to seek authorization from the heads of individual polling stations as well as clearance from the electoral commission, the Web site said.
Saeda urged President Hosni Mubarak to intervene, in keeping with his pledge of free elections, to allow non-government organizations to do their work unhindered.
The secular al-Wafd opposition party said its supporters were attacked by members of the ruling National Democratic Party, the report said.
The elections are scheduled for Nov. 28.
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