Egypt's Brotherhood Won't Work With 'Usurpers'

Supporters of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi flash victory signs during a rally, Nasser City, Cairo, July 3, 2013.

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood will not work with "the usurper authorities," a member of its executive board said on Thursday, rejecting feelers from the newly sworn-in head of state after the military removed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi from power.

"We reject participation in any work with the usurper authorities," Sheikh Abdel Rahman al-Barr said in a statement published on the group's website.

"We call on protesters to show self-restraint and stay peaceful. We reject the oppressive, police state practices: killing, arrests, curbing media freedom and closing TV channels."