Reports of dissension in Egypt's opposition Muslim Brotherhood as wellas the resignation of its leader were swiftly denied by the group's topleader.
Egypt'sMuslim Brotherhood quickly rejected reports that its leader resignedafter a row with conservatives. But analysts say the controversyexposes a profound rift among the Islamists.
The MuslimBrotherhood was reacting to news reports in the Egyptian press earlierthis week that Supreme Guide Mohammed Mahdi Akef stormed out of ameeting over the weekend, saying he quit.
The 81-year-old Akefhas since told the press that he continues to lead the group. Butpublic debate continues, bringing to light reported clashes betweenmoderate and conservative leaders over the appointment of senior memberEssam al-Erian to the group's politburo. The dispute has been brewingsince the death in June of Mohammed Hilal, which opened the seat. Theconservatives reportedly blocked al-Erian when he was nominated.
HishamKassem, editor of the popular Egyptian daily newspaper , says that the internal debate over al-Erian's appointmentmeans the pendulum of power has swung in favor of the conservatives.
"Thereis a rift, coming out to the surface," he said. "It's always existedbetween the hardliners and the moderates, and clearly the hardlinersare getting their way. From what I gather, Mehdi Akef has actually, Idon't know what you call it - sabbatical or whatever - he hasn'tresigned his post. But he's allowing the deputy Supreme Guide to runthings, and it doesn't look like Essam Al-Erian is going to make it onthe guidance bureau."
Kassem says he does not think that thedevelopment bodes well for Egyptian society in the short-term, but hesees a possible benefit in the end.
"[In] the short term, it'snot a positive development because the Guidance Bureau can certainlyuse more people like Essam al-Erian," he said. "But again, [in] thelong run, I'm not sure how this is going to affect [things]. I mean,maybe if the dinosaurs take over [the group], they will bring about thedemise of the Brotherhood, which might not be a bad thing for civil,political life in the country."
The Muslim Brotherhood, whichremains officially banned by the Egyptian government, has been allowedto continue to field candidates for parliament. The Ikhwan, as theyare known in Arabic, hold one-fifth of the seats in Egypt's MaglisAl-Sha'ab, or parliament.
The row inside the Brotherhood hasbeen headline news in the Egyptian press, and the debate over itsimplications has spilled over to popular Arab satellite TV stations.
TheBrotherhood, which runs a popular Web site called Ikhwanonline, wasfounded in 1928 by Egyptian school-teacher Hassan al-Banna, after avisit to the United States. The group is dedicated to spreading therule of Islamic law, or sharia, across the Arab and Islamicsocieties.