by IPT News • Oct 4, 2011 at 9:33 am
http://www.investigativeproject.org/3216/us-diplomat-confirms-direct-talks-with-egypt

American officials have met with members of Egypt’s long-banned Muslim Brotherhood, an unnamed senior U.S. diplomat told Reuters.

The official did not specify when the meetings took place, but noted that there has been no formal distinction between members of the Brotherhood or its affiliated political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), whose formation was first announced in February.

“We have had direct contacts with senior officials of the Freedom and Justice party,” the American diplomat said, adding that the administration does not “have a policy that makes a distinction [between the Brotherhood and the FJP], that one or the other is off limits.”

The latest talks involved “high-level” party members, the official said, in contrast to earlier contacts, which were mostly with Brotherhood-affiliated parliamentarians running as “independents.” More