CAIRO, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Egyptian security forces detained at least 15 members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood on Sunday in dawn raids on their homes in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, security and Brotherhood sources said.

The Brotherhood said on its web site that those held include Talaat Fahmy, who runs a private school in Alexandria that was closed by the state over accusations that it was teaching Brotherhood ideas to its pupils.

Security sources said authorities arrested the Brotherhood members over suspicions that they were planning a protest to demand the school be allowed to open.

Those detained were accused of belonging to a banned group, gathering without a permit and educating children in Brotherhood ideas, security sources said. The Brotherhood says it has obtained a court order to open the school. The government calls the Muslim Brotherhood a banned organisation, although the group operates openly and fields independent candidates in parliamentary elections. It won a fifth of seats in 2005 parliamentary polls.

Political analysts say the government wants to stop the Brotherhood from mounting a serious political challenge to President Hosni Mubarak, in power since 1981, and police often detain members for long periods without formal charges. (Writing by Cynthia Johnston)

AlertNet news is provided by