By AFP
CAIRO: Egypt’s opposition Muslim Brotherhood chief on Tuesday warned the government to “beware” of the people’s anger if it rigs the results of a parliamentary poll this month but ruled out violence by his group.
“We are at a time that must see a rallying of efforts and all forces safeguarding the national ship before the (ruling) National Democratic Party sinks it,” Mohamed Badie said on the group’s website.
The Brotherhood, the country’s largest opposition movement despite a ban on religious parties, plans to contest 134 out of the 508 seats up for grabs in parliament from late November, with its candidates running as independents.
The group controls a fifth of the sitting parliament.
Egypt’s electoral commission has until Nov. 14 to vet applications from the total of 5,720 candidates for the two rounds of voting on Nov. 28 and December 5.
Badie said, “The Egyptian people have taken positive stances in their history and they will not allow forgery in the election. The government should beware of the people if they are angered.”
Rights groups say curbs on the media, on the Brotherhood and independent candidates ahead of the upcoming vote have already cast doubt on the process.
In the run-up to the ballot, dozens of Brotherhood supporters have been arrested and the government press has accused the group of planning violence to influence the vote.
Badie said the Brotherhood would not use violence. “We are prepared to be vigilant on the ballot boxes, not to die at them,” he said.
Dissident Mohamed ElBaradei, the former UN nuclear watchdog chief, has urged opposition parties to boycott the vote but none with any significant presence in parliament has agreed.
