A fugitive leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood is denying media allegations that his group is waging a "terror" campaign.
Mohammed el-Beltagy's videotaped speech was aired by Al-Jazeera today. He says the accusations are "lies" and an attempt to turn a political crisis into a security problem.
He went into hiding earlier this month after authorities violently broke up protest encampments held by supporters of President Mohammed Morsi, ousted in a July 3 coup. Hundreds died in the crackdown, including el-Beltagy's daughter.
In a backlash, Morsi supporters attacked police stations, government buildings and churches. Hundreds of Brotherhood leaders and Morsi supporters have been arrested, many accused of orchestrating violence.
Egypt's media, almost uniformly anti-Brotherhood after the closure of Islamist TV stations, have described the crackdown as a "war on terror.
