The Egyptian authorities arrested hardliner cleric Safwat Hegazi and Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Murad Ali on Wednesday morning, reported the state-owned news agency.

Hegazi was arrested at the entrance to Marsa Matrouh's Siwa Oasis as he was headed to the Egyptian borders with Libya, according to security sources.

Ali was arrested before boarding a plane to Rome on Italian airlines. He had shaved his beard so that the authorities would not recognize him.