Egypt crisis
Egypt begins disbanding Muslim Brotherhood amid unrest - Reuters

Egypt has set in motion legal process for disbanding the Muslim Brotherhood amid the snowballing unrest in the country, a day after the interim prime minister called for dissolving the Islamist group.

The ministry of social solidarity said the dissolution is being done because of the "terrorist acts" carried out by the Brotherhood, a party from which deposed president Mohamed Morsi hails.

Minister of Social Solidarity Ahmed al-Borai said it has become the "legal duty" of the interim administration to dissolve the Brotherhood.

Citing the examples of the nullification of the Shura council, the Islamist-led assembly, and the constitution, he insisted that the government has the legal authority to disband the Brotherhood.

A formal complaint has been registered with the General Federation of Non-governmental Organisations to probe the Brotherhood and a decision on the matter is expected in the next 15 days.

Once the outfit is dismantled, it will be obliged to surrender its properties and other assets, a move aimed at bringing the Brotherhood to its knees.

The minister claimed a court verdict will not be necessary to prosecute the Brotherhood, given the nature of "the crimes" its supporters have allegedly committed.

The group remained a banned organisation since 1954 under the rule of Egyptian dictators. The Brotherhood registered itself as a non-governmental organisation in 2011 following the removal of Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt's interim Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi said: "There will be no reconciliation with those whose hands have been stained with blood and who turned weapons against the state and its institutions."

Egypt's cabinet is to convene later in the day to discuss the continuing turmoil. Many senior government figures have branded the latest protests by Morsi supporters as an act of "terrorism".

The army-backed administration and the Brotherhood blame each other for the bloodshed.