White House expresses concern over Egypt’s political arrests

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said on Wednesday that the Bush administration was concerned by the “campaign of arrests” made in Egypt of individuals involved in upcoming elections who oppose the governing part, Reuters reported the same day.

Egypt has detained more than 350 members of the Muslim Brotherhood since mid-February, and is now holding more than 730 of its members, group leaders say.

With Congressional disapproval beginning to grow louder in Washington over Egypt’s human rights record, the White House made a clear statement of criticism. “We call on the government of Egypt to cease any actions that would compromise the ability of the Egyptian people to fully exercise their internationally recognized human rights and to participate in a free and fair election,” Perino said.

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