Report: Muslim Brotherhood Leader Has Heart Attack

News sources are reporting that a top Muslim Brotherhood member has suffered from cardiac arrest while in prison. Meanwhile, the death toll from Friday's protests in Egypt has risen to eight, with over 221 injured, according to the Health Ministry.

Mohamed Badie, the top leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, has suffered a heart attack while in prison in Egypt, the state run al-Ahram newspaper has reported. It remains unclear whether his condition has stabilized, with private al-Nahar website claiming the politician had passed away, and news agency MENA denying the report.

MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD LEADER BADIE SUFFERS HEART ATTACK IN JAIL - STATE NEWSPAPER REUTERS #Egypt— Quentin Sommerville (@sommervillebbc) August 31, 2013

70-year-old Badie, a dominant presence in the protests held by the Muslim Brotherhood when Morsi was first ousted, went into hiding when security forces intensified their efforts to shut down the demonstrations. He was arrested on August 20 by the interim government for murder and "inciting violence."

Meanwhile, Egyptian security forces arrested 230 people in clashes that broke out in several cities across the country Friday after pro-Morsi demonstrators marched to demand the ousted President's reinstatement, Egypt’s interior ministry said. The National Alliance for Supporting Legitimacy (a pro-Morsi bloc) vowed Saturday to continue protesting daily against the "oppressive coup," in spite of Friday's violence.

According to a statement by the ministry, several Muslim Brotherhood members were also arrested Friday for “convening to plan demonstrations."