20100116

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood named a conservative as its new leader on Saturday, suggesting that Egypt's biggest opposition group may lower its political profile and focus on a social agenda.

Mohamed Badeea's appointment followed a heated debate between conservatives wary of stepping up political activities that have already triggered repression from the state and many from a younger generation seeking more political activism.

The Brotherhood, which seeks to introduce Islamic rule by democratic means, is officially banned but grudgingly tolerated by the state, and took about a fifth of the seats in parliament in 2005 by fielding candidates as independents.

Since then, and with 81-year-old President Hosni Mubarak due to step down or stand for re-election in 2011, the state has been squeezing the Brotherhood out of mainstream politics, often arresting activists and holding them for weeks without charge.

Together with the appointment of a more cautious leader, this is likely to mean less representation for the Brotherhood after the next parliamentary election, due this year.

Badeea, 66, who like many Brotherhood members has been arrested in the past, is a member of the group's 16-member governing body. In an internal election to the body last month, conservatives secured most seats.

CONSERVATIVES DOMINATE

"Mohamed Badeea has been chosen by majority vote by the Shura Council as the new leader," Mohamed Mahdi Akef, the former leader, in his 80s, who stepped down this month, told a news conference.