While the banned Muslim Brotherhood opposition group in Egypt backed the criticism voiced by Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah against the Egyptian regime, a senior official with the ruling National Democratic Party said Nasrallah's comments were not his but that of Tehran.

Muslim Brotherhood's deputy leader Mohammed Habib said in comments published by the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Tuesday that the Shiite leader's speech was based on his appreciation for Egypt's historic and pioneer role at the regional level.

On his part, Rifaat al-Saeed, chairman of the Egyptian coalition party was quoted as saying by the Arabic Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that Nasrallah's speech did not come from him but rather from his Iranian patrons. "Egyptians do not need Nasrallah's permission to demonstrate," Saeed noted.

He also voiced his astonishment that Nasrallah's remarks was directed at the Egyptian army and asked: "Does he dare calling on the Syrian or Iranian armies" to confront the war on Gaza.

In a televised address on Sunday, Nasrallah called on Egyptians to take to the streets "in millions" to force the government to open the Rafah crossing to Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Jihad Awdeh of the ruling National Democratic Party slammed Nasrallah's speech, saying he "committed a big mistake." "The person who talked to us is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad whom Nasrallah works for," Awdeh said, adding that Egyptian armed forces do not give ear to such "nonsense."

© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)