Jordan mb 'hardline,' 'moderate' trends hold talks on leadership formation

A member of the Muslim Brotherhood's [MB] Shura Council revealed that internal talks are ongoing among the elected council members so that the hardline and moderate trends can reach an understanding concerning the formation of the group's leadership in the coming stage. The official, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that the group's leadership is taking great care to reach an understanding concerning all issues of disagreement before the new Shura Council meeting. He added that the understanding will be on the issue of the controller general, the formation of the executive office, the issue of a decision concerning the Islamic movement's parliament deputies, the membership of former Controller General Abd-al-Majid Dhunaybat in the Senate, and the punishment the Brotherhood's court issued against Zaki Sa'd Bani Irshayd, secretary general of the Islamic Action Front, and Dr Muhammad Abu-Faris, member of the Shura Council. The official told Al-Ra'y that there is a general trend within the MB to extend current Controller General Salim al-Falahat's term in office. He noted that there are some sides who are active within the Shura Council and who consider that the coming period requires that Al-Falahat not be changed and that there is a need to work on distributing the executive office's formation among the trends within the MB. He noted that no date has been set for the Shura Council meeting thus far to give the ongoing internal dialogue a chance, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement on the issues posed on the new Shura Council's agenda, including the election of the leadership. The official in the Islamic movement expected the Shura Council to hold its meeting before the end of the month, noting that the atmosphere is favorable for reaching an agreement. The Shura Council, which consists of 50 members, will elect five other members to the council and then the head of the Shura Council, the group's controller general, who will in turn present a list of the members of the executive office to be voted on individually. Official sources in the Islamic movement said that the MB has decided to separate the Shura Council's chairmanship and the post of controller general, for which an amendment was ratified stating that one of the members of the Shura Council will be elected as its president. It is worth noting that the group's controller general also heads the Shura Council. [Description of Source Amman Al-Ra'y in Arabic -- Jordanian daily of widest circulation; partially owned by government. Internet version also available at [URL] Copyright © 2008 Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of Commerce.

Published on Tuesday, April 22, 2008

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