Egypt's banned but tolerated Muslim Brotherhood says 753 of its members have been arrested by the police in raids across the country.

The raids targeting the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been behind a series of pro-reform protests against President Hosni Mubarak, were conducted in nine governorates.

"The number of members of the Brotherhood held ... now totals 753 people, including 28 people arrested on Saturday and some 60 arrested on Tuesday," the group said in a statement on Wednesday.

The crackdown came a day after the group and three main opposition parties had announced to boycott a disputed referendum on a constitutional amendment about the mechanism of electing Egypt's next president.

The General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood issued a statement saying that Egypt's security apparatus has launched a campaign against the group's members.

Arrests condemned

Speaking to Aljazeera, the general guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Mahdi Akif, condemned the arrests and vowed to press ahead with the "struggle for the nation's welfare".

"All Egyptian people reject this regime and this rude, obstinate and tyrannical style," he added.

Earlier, judicial sources said 56 Muslim Brotherhood members had been seized on Tuesday, accused of belonging to a banned group and "attempting to mobilise students and workers" against Mubarak's 24-year-old government".

Egypt has witnessed a wave of protests, many of them organised by the Muslim Brotherhood, over Mubarak's failure to engage in true democratic reforms.

Several members were hurt by police during rallies and one died after inhaling tear gas, according to rights groups and the Brotherhood.

Too restrictive

Egypt's opposition groups are also demanding the lifting of emergency laws imposed after the assassination of Mubarak's predecessor Anwar al-Sadat 24 years ago.

They have also called for a boycott of a 25 May referendum on a constitutional amendment allowing for the first competitive presidential polls, saying the rules are too restrictive.

Students, university teachers and even judges have occasionally joined in the pro-reform rallies.

PHOTO CAPTION

Leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohammed Mahdi Akef, Egypt's largest Islamic movement at his office in Cairo Sunday, May 15, 2005. (AP)