FJP members take up key posts

Cairo: The Muslim Brotherhood yesterday dominated key committees in the People's Assembly, or the lower house of parliament.

In internal elections, lawmakers of the group yesterday won votes to chair the bulk of legislature committees. The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) holds nearly half of parliament seats.

Results of votes showed that an alliance led by the Muslim Brotherhood took over all but two of the parliamentary committees. Essam Al Erian, a veteran member, became chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. The chairmanship of the Defence and National Security Committee went to Abbas Mokheimar, a member with a military background.

Committees of planning, industry, economy, manpower, Arab affairs, housing, culture, transport, human rights, health, legislation, education, complaints, and religious affairs are now headed by lawmakers directly affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood or belonging to political parties that forged an alliance with the group in the recent legislative elections.