CAIRO — The powerful Muslim Brotherhood's political party has elected a former speaker of parliament as its new leader, replacing Mohammed Morsi who resigned from the post after being elected Egypt's president in June.

The Freedom and Justice party's election committee says Saad el-Katatny beat out the deputy leader Essam el-Erian in Friday's vote, 581 to 283.

In his acceptance speech, el-Katatny said he will honor the idea of seeking to build a state based on Islamic principles.

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El-Katatny was widely considered the favorite for the party's top job because of his close ties with the Brotherhood's senior leadership.

The once-banned Brotherhood has emerged as Egypt's strongest political force after last year's uprising. It captured the most seats in parliamentary elections, and its candidate won the presidency.