Egypt Islamic body backs Brotherhood candidate

A panel of fundamentalist Islamic clerics has endorsed the candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood for president of Egypt, an attempt to prevent a split among conservative Muslim voters.

The panel that represents ultraconservative Salafi Muslims and others put its weight behind Mohammed Morsi, a senior Brotherhood official. He still faces competition from a more moderate Islamist, Abdel-Moneim Abolfotoh, who broke ranks with the Brotherhood, as well as veteran secular statesman Amr Moussa. (AP)