Reply #1: AP account (in both WP and BG) of Kerry meeting with the Muslim Brotherhood

[karynnj]

U.S. Sen. John Kerry met with members of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group set to dominate the new parliament, as well as the country’s military ruler and prime minister on Saturday.

The Muslim Brotherhood said in a statement three of its top officials attended the meeting with Kerry, who was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson.

In their meeting with the Democratic senator from Massachusetts, Brotherhood officials vowed to respect civil rights and international treaties that have been signed in the past, possibly an attempt to allay fears that the group may try to re-examine Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel.

The Brotherhood, which was banned under ousted President Hosni Mubarak, has so far won about 47 percent of the vote for the lower house of parliament. Two-thirds of the country have yet to vote in the staggered process that finishes in January, but the outcome is not expected to dramatically change.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/us-senator-kerry-meets-with-egypts-brotherhood-and-military-chief-in-visit/2011/12/10/gIQAedAClO_story.html