Muslim Brotherhood stakes claim on government

CAIRO, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- The Muslim Brotherhood's political alliance in Egypt is ready to form an alliance in opposition to the current Cabinet, a senior leader said.

The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party dominated parliamentary elections in Egypt alongside fellow Islamist al-Nour party. Together, they took more than half of the seats in a new Egyptian Parliament.

Khairat al-Shater, a deputy leader in the Muslim Brotherhood, told al-Jazeera his group was frustrated with Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri and ready to form a new government.

"We won't be the only ones who form it but instead there should be an alliance to form it," he said.

The Muslim Brotherhood was banned from politics under Hosni Mubarak's regime but managed to take 20 percent of the parliamentary seats by running independent candidates in 2005. The FJP said it has no intention to field a presidential candidate, however.

On a new constitution, the deputy leader said his organization was "mulling a balanced wording" in the new document. "However, the constituent assembly is the entity that will write (the constitution), not the Muslim Brotherhood."

The Muslim Brotherhood campaigned under the slogan "Islam is the Solution" during the Mubarak era. Washington had said it respects the group's political ambitions as long as it upholds the spirit of democracy.