CAIRO (AFP) - The Egyptian police has orders to arrest 300 leaders and members of Mohamed Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood after the army deposed the Islamist president on Wednesday, the website of the official Al-Ahram newspaper reported early Thursday.

A senior interior ministry official confirmed to AFP that arrest warrants have been issued for "Muslim Brotherhood members", but provided no further details.

Earlier officials said that security forces had arrested on Wednesday two senior Brotherhood leaders close to Mr Mursi.

Saad al-Katatni, who heads the Freedom and Justice Party - the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood - and Rashad Bayoumi, the deputy head of the Islamist movement were detained, the officials said.