CAIRO (AP) -- Egypt's most powerful Muslim group has blamed the secular and liberal opposition for a wave of violence over the appointment of new Islamist governors.

A Wednesday statement by the Freedom and Justice party, political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, says the refusal of opposition leaders to talk to Islamist President Mohammed Morsi was to blame for the violence in four Nile Delta provinces, the city of Alexandria and two regions south of the capital, Cairo.

The clashes, many of which involved Brotherhood members, erupted following Monday's appointment of 17 new governors, who included seven from the group.

The statement made no mention of the part played by Morsi's supporters, and said the violence was a preview of what could happen during mass protests against Morsi's rule planned for June 30.