Brotherhood rejects roadmap

The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, will not take part in Egyptian political process after the military ousted its president, a party advisor said. The party rejects a transitional roadmap announced by the army after what it calls "a coup" that overthrew Mohamed Mursi, FJP's media advisor Ahmed Sobei told Xinhua. "The Brotherhood won't recognize the transitional government, the constitutional declaration or any other procedure resulted from the coup," Sobei said.

On July 3, Mursi was ousted by the military after mass protests demanded his stepping down for his poor performance in his first year in office. A transitional roadmap was then announced, supported by politicians, religious leaders and representatives of the youth. The roadmap suspended the constitution, and assigned head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adli Mansour, to temporarily run the country until a new president is elected.

Interim President Mansour appointed ex-finance minister Hazem al-Beblawi as prime minister to form a caretaker government. Beblawi said the Brotherhood will be part of the political process and that they will be offered some portfolios. However, Sobei said the FJP would "only consider initiatives to bring things to a right path," stressing its rejection to a political process brought about by a coup.

He added the supporters of the party would continue their sit-ins across the country until the return of the "legitimate president". Commenting on the closure of the Brotherhood's headquarters in Cairo after weapons were found there, Sobei called it a "smear campaign" against the group and its party. Regarding clashes between the armed forces and Morsi's supporters outside the Republican Guards headquarters in Cairo, Sobei said the political struggle did not to leave any space for Morsi's backers to express their opinions in a peaceful way.

The clashes outside the Republican Guards headquarters Monday left at least 53 people dead and nearly 500 injured.

El Baradei sworn in Vice-President

Cairo (PTI): Prominent liberal leader Mohammed El Baradei was sworn in today as Egypt's interim vice president for foreign relations, even as Prime Minister Hazem Al Beblawy continued negotiations to form the new Cabinet following the ouster of President Mohammed Mursi. El Baradei, 71, was initially tipped to be the Prime Minister, but his nomination was rejected by the Salafist party Al Nur. El Baradei was sworn in on Sunday by interim President Adly Mansour as Egypt's interim vice president for foreign relations, the presidency said in a statement. The appointment of Nobel peace prize winner ElBaradei came after the military overthrew Islamist president Mursi on July 3.

Criminal case against Mursi

Cairo (PTI): Egypt has launched a criminal probe against deposed Islamist President Mohammed Mursi for alleged spying, inciting violence and ruining the economy, in a blow to thousands of his supporters who have been staging a sit-in here demanding his reinstatement.

Egyptian prosecutors had on Saturday announced the criminal investigation against Mursi and several other leading Muslim Brotherhood figures, including the Islamist movement's top leader Mohamed Badie. 61-year-old Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president, was toppled by the powerful military early this month and since has been kept under detention along with some senior aides of his Muslim Brotherhood party.

Morsi was last seen in public on June 26 and has been held at an undisclosed location. A foreign ministry spokesman, earlier this week had said, Mursi is in a "safe place" following his ouster.