20 Egypt opposition members detained

At least 20 members of Egypt’s opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, have been arrested as tensions rise ahead of the Muslim Friday prayers, the group’s lawyer says.

Abdelmoneim Abdel Maqsoud said that the members, including five former parliament representatives, were detained overnight Friday, AFP reported.

Although Egyptian authorities have banned protests, the Muslim Brotherhood on Thursday called on people to gather en masse and continue the demonstrations in their fourth day after the Friday prayers.

The Muslim Brotherhood spokesman, Essam al-Arian, warned that Egypt will “explode” if the government continues its policy of repression and does not listen to the people.

The ruling regime in Cairo has disrupted Internet service and deployed special operations counterterrorism forces on the side of several roads in capital Cairo.

Egypt’s interior ministry has warned of “decisive measures” against anti-government protests that have turned into the country’s largest uprising since President Hosni Mubarak came to power three decades ago.

US President Barack Obama called on Mubarak on Thursday to make “absolutely critical” reforms, boosting pressure on the key US ally. However, an Israeli minister said the Egyptian government will have to exercise force to rein in public protests.

The country’s prominent opposition figure, Mohamed ElBaradei, who has just arrived in Egypt form Vienna, has expressed readiness to lead the protest movement with the aim of enabling a “peaceful transition” of power.

According to opposition group, Egyptian riot police have cracked down on the anti-government protesters, killing at least nine people and arresting up to 1,200 activists in the past three days of protests.