Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood says it rejects violence

Group says it is willing to hand over members to authorities for questioning over a recent assault on activists and reporters

CAIRO (AP) — A senior Muslim Brotherhood leader says the group is prepared, if asked, to hand over to authorities members for questioning over a recent assault on activists and reporters.

Mahmoud Hussein, addressing a Thursday news conference, says the Brotherhood, from which President Mohammed Morsi hails, rejects violence and will hold its members accountable if found guilty of the assault.

In the incident last weekend, Brotherhood members beat protesters spray-painting graffiti outside the group’s headquarters.

Hussein refused to apologize for the assault, saying the Brotherhood will only do that if the courts find its members guilty of assault. He said the building’s guards were provoked by the protesters.

Activists plan a protest Friday outside the Brotherhood headquarters over the assault.