Egypt Islamists press generals to sack government

CAIRO – Egypt's most influential political group, the Muslim Brotherhood, is accusing the country's ruling military of maneuvering to keep the Islamists from power, repeating demands to dismiss the military-appointed Cabinet.

The Brotherhood, which holds close to half the seats in parliament, criticized the Cabinet, saying it has failed to solve the country's economic crisis.

Saad Amara, a parliamentarian with the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, said Thursday that the military is trying to protect its privileged position by "making up" crises in the streets.

Brotherhood-military relations have became increasingly confrontational in the weeks before Egypt's presidential election, set for May. After that, the military pledges to turn over power to civilians.