Mursi appoints governors, adds to Muslim Brotherhood power

PanARMENIAN.Net - Egypt's President has appointed 17 new provincial governors, including seven members of his Muslim Brotherhood, adding to its power, The Associated Press reports.

Mohammed Mursi's appointments Sunday, June 16 come before the anniversary of taking office (on June 30), when the liberal and secular Egyptian opposition plans mass demonstrations to demand his ouster.

The appointments mean the Brotherhood controls the governorships in 10 out of the country's 27 provinces.

Military and police generals run at least nine other provinces. A member of the former militant group Gamaa Islamiya was appointed governor of ancient city of Luxor.

Some of the provinces ruled by Brotherhood governors are opposition strongholds, such as the Nile Delta provinces of Gharbiya and Menoufia.