Egypt: Police arrest Muslim Brotherhood chiefs Mohammed el-Beltagy and Khaled Al-Azhari

Mohamed el-Beltagy has been arrested (EPA)

Egyptian police have arrested two top Muslim Brotherhood figures, including an outspoken former politician who has made public appeals for protests against the new military-backed government.

Officials say Mohammed el-Beltagy and former Labour Minister Khaled Al-Azhari were arrested in an apartment not far from the Pyramids of Giza.

Mr El-Beltagy was wanted on charges of inciting violence, murder and terrorism.

He was also wanted for involvement in an assault on a police officer who authorities say was kidnapped by protesters at a Brotherhood's sit-in in Cairo. The sit-in was forcibly cleared by police two weeks ago.

It's the latest arrest of top Brotherhood figures who have protested since the July 3 military ousting of President Mohammed Morsi. The group's supreme guide was arrested last week.