Egypt's ultraconservative Islamist party elects new leader after split

CAIRO – Egypt's ultraconservative Islamist party has named a new leader, after the former head split away to form a new party.

The Salafist Al-Nour Party emerged as the second largest in parliamentary elections last year, but the parliament was dissolved by court order.

Founder Emad Abdel-Ghafour formed his own party on Jan. 1. It's expected to align with the party of President Mohammed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood in upcoming elections.

Al-Nour chose Younis Makhyoun as its new leader on Wednesday.

The split resulted from infighting over the influence of clerics who were among Al-Nour founders, as well as relations with the dominant Brotherhood.

Opposition to the Brotherhood runs deep among many Salafis. Al-Nour's leaders say the Brotherhood is too willing to compromise on Islamic issues. Salafis advocate rule by strict Islamic law.