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 January 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 today.
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.
PTI
