The group, the main supporter of President Mohamed Morsi, said in a statement it decided to join the nationwide protests called for by several Islamic forces over recent rulings acquitting former President Hosni Mubarak's officials.

　　Mahmoud Hussein, MB's secretary-general, said the decision came in response to the political forces' demand to accomplish the goals of what many Egyptians refer to as the "Jan. 25 revolution," which saw the ouster of Mubarak.

　　In February, an Egyptian criminal court released former Shura Council (upper house of parliament) Speaker Safwat al-Sherif for exceeding 18 months in temporary custody over charges of corruption and illicit gains.

　　The same court acquitted in March former tourism and housing ministers Zuhair Garana and Ahmed al-Maghrabi of corruption charges.

　　In October 2012, the court acquitted all defendants of involvement in an attack publicly known as "the Battle of the Camel," which killed at least 21 protesters and injured hundreds at Cairo's Tahrir Square during the 2011 upheaval.