Egyptian Islamists protest over Morsi ouster
Egyptian Islamists protest over Morsi ousterReuters

Egyptian prosecutors have called for the arrest of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie, in a move that is likely to further inflame tensions between Islamists and the secular, military-backed interim government.

According to Egyptian State media, Badie is charged with incitement to violence. His arrest comes after days of bloodshed following the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood-backed President Mohammed Morsi. It is not yet clear whether his arrest is linked to recent calls for an "uprising" by the Muslim Brotherhood, following the killings of more than 40 protestors outside the facility where Morsi is being held.

Scores of Brotherhood activists and leaders, including the deposed president, are already being held in custody.

The arrest comes on the same day that the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party rejected calls for it to join the transitional cabinet.

Arutz Sheva has previously reported on the violent campaign waged by Islamists in the wake of Morsi's ouster, including attacks against the country's Christian minority and Egyptian military positions.

Footage taken earlier this month reveals some of the violent rhetoric expressed by Islamists at pro-Morsi demonstrations, with some going so far as to call for a "civil war," and threaten suicide bombings against the head of Egypt's armed forces, and the orchestrator of what they condemn as a "coup", Abdul Fatah al-Sisi.

This latest arrest may demonstrate that al-Sisi is taking them at their word.