Sunday, January 17, 2010 CAIRO: Egypt's main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, named conservative Mohammed Badie as its new leader on Saturday, in a move analysts said signals a switch to a less active role in politics. Badie, a veterinary professor at a southern university, was "chosen by consensus by members of the consultative council," his predecessor Mohammed Akef told a press conference in Cairo. The Brotherhood, is officially banned but controls a fifth of seats in the Egyptian parliament after it ran independent candidates in the last general election in 2005. Badie told reporters that the Brotherhood rejected violence and aimed to achieve gradual reforms. "We believe in incremental reform, and that takes places in a peaceful and constitutional way. We reject violence and denounce it in all its forms," the new leader said. The group has affiliates in other Muslim states, some with official status. Egypt's Brotherhood leader is in
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