Egypt's most organized political group has held its first open internal elections, a move that was not possible under former President Hosni Mubarak's rule.

The Muslim Brotherhood convened Saturday to pick replacements for three party executives who resigned. The voting took place ahead of parliamentary elections planned for later this year.

The Muslim Brotherhood was banned under Mr. Mubarak's administration, although it fielded candidates as independents.

In May, the group announced it had formed a new political entity called the Freedom and Justice Party. The group said the party would contest about half of the parliamentary seats in upcoming elections.

The Brotherhood replaced party leader Mohamed Mursi and two deputies in Saturday's voting. All three are now part of the Freedom and Justice Party.

In a Saturday statement, the Brotherhood said it had decided that no Freedom and Justice member should hold a Muslim Brotherhood post, to ensure “separation” between the two groups.

The statement also called Saturday's voting “practicing democracy in the open.”