Egypt releases 2 Brotherhood leaders

CAIRO - Egypt's prosecution on Friday released two recently-arrested Muslim Brotherhood (MB) leading figures, state TV reported.

Mohamed Saad al-Katatni, the leader of the MB's Freedom and Justice Party, and Rashad al-Bayoumi, deputy general guide of the group, were arrested on Wednesday over charges of inciting violence, right after the ouster of Islamist-oriented president Mohamed Morsi.

Also on Friday, the police arrested the MB's official lawyer Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Maqsood and former Salafist presidential candidate Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, according to state-run MENA news agency.

Security sources said the procedures are meant to prevent the Islamist leaders from urging their supporters for acts of violence against the security forces or the public celebrating Morsi's removal.

Clashes erupted Friday between Morsi's opponents and proponents in several governorates across the country including the capital Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Qena, Assiut, Fayoum and North Sinai.