CAIRO // Egypt's army-backed government has dissolved the Muslim Brotherhood as a registered non-governmental organisation, the state-run Al Akhbar newspaper reported, pressing a crackdown on deposed President Mohammed Morsi's movement.
The decision applies to the NGO registered by the Brotherhood in March in response to a lawsuit that argued the group had no legal status and marks a legal challenge to Mrsi as the police round up its leaders across the country.
"The minister's decision has in fact been issued but it will be announced at the start of next week in a press conference," Al Akhbar quoted Hany Mahana, spokesman for the minister of social solidarity, as saying.
After veteran autocrat Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011, the Brotherhood won parliamentary and presidential elections. The army deposed Mr Morsi on July 3 in response to mass protests against his rule.
Social Solidarity Minister Ahmed Al Boraie's decision to dissolve the group as an NGO stemmed from accusations that the Brotherhood had used its headquarters to fire and store weapons and explosives.
