DHAKA: A fugitive senior Muslim Brotherhood leader, Essam el-Erian, has been detained by the Egyptian authorities.

Prosecutors ordered his arrest in July, after the ousting of president Mohammed Mursi.

The arrest is the latest move in a government crackdown against the Islamist movement which is now banned, reports the BBC.

State-run news agency Mena said Erian was expected to stand trial next week along with Mursi and a dozen other officials.

A Muslim Brotherhood spokesman told the BBC Erian was arrested early on Wednesday at an apartment in the New Cairo area and taken to an undisclosed location.

A photo circulated by local media was said to show the moment of the arrest, a smiling Erian standing next to two packed bags.

‘You can’t escape your destiny,’ he was quoted as saying.

Erian, a very public face of the Muslim Brotherhood, is also vice chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Brotherhood’s political wing.

BDST: 1421 HRS, OCT 30, 2013
RoR/BSK