Muslim Brotherhood and Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) leader Mohamed Ali Beshr said Monday that the court ruling issued dissolving the Muslim Brotherhood was illegitimate, but would not hinder national reconciliation or a political solution for the current crisis in Egypt.

GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION

New anti-military, anti-Brotherhood front to be launched Tuesday
A new group called the Revolution Path Front was launched Tuesday in Cairo by a group of political activists who say they aim to work towards the revolution’s goals of “bread, freedom and social justice.” The group brings together leftist economist Wael Gamal, former Muslim Brotherhood member Mohamed al-Qasas, author Ahdaf Souief, April 6 General Coordinator Ahmed Maher, activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, and Revolutionary Socialist Haitham Mohamadeen. [Ahram Online, Mada Masr, 9/24/2013]

Nour party denies any communication with American intelligence
The Nour Party denied statements published in Al-Ahram saying that the party was in communication with American intelligence. The party asserted that any communication with any foreign party is conducted only through formal channels. [EGYNews (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic), Tahrir (Arabic), 9/24/2013]

Also of Interest:
What has really happened in Egypt: Makram Ebeid | Ahram Online
Bourhami: ousting Morsi was in accordance with sharia | AMAY (Arabic)
Mansour: State pays special attention to Matrouh, Sinai | SIS
Sisi meets Kuwaiti delegation | SIS

COURTS & CONSTITUTION

Dissolving Brotherhood illegitimate but will not hinder national reconciliation: FJP leader
Muslim Brotherhood and Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) leader Mohamed Ali Beshr said Monday that the court ruling issued dissolving the Muslim Brotherhood was illegitimate, but would not hinder national reconciliation or a political solution for the current crisis in Egypt. He asserted that the group will file an appeal against the verdict. Brotherhood figure and secretary-general of the lawyers’ syndicate Mohamed Tosson said on Monday that the verdict will be cancelled, as it was not released by a court with the jurisdiction to make such a judgment. The court that made the verdict is the court of urgent matters. Tosson said that in order for the verdict to be enforceable, it must be announced by the administrative court. He also said that the verdict cannot include the group’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), arguing that legal affairs related to the party follow a different legal track than that of the group. Conversely, constitutional law expert Yasser al-Hodaiby asserted in a separate statement to Al Ahram that any verdict issued by the court of urgent matters is enforceable even if it is followed by appeals. The Muslim Brotherhood, and its legal committee, issued statements condemning the verdict, with its members describing the ruling as fascist, while the FJP also rejected it. As a result of the verdict, the Muslim Brotherhood decided to move its media center to London. Meanwhile, the al-Jama’a al-Islamiya also condemned the ruling, saying it would only serve to worsen polarization in Egypt. Al Jama’a al-Islamiya and the Salafi Nour Party agreed that the ruling would do little to end the crisis, and could lead to further violence. [Egypt Independent, Ahram Online, DNE, AMAY (Arabic), EGYNews (Arabic), 9/24/2013]

Campaign to issue new constitution gathers different momentum
Representatives of liberal and leftist forces serving on the fifty member constitutional committee said on Monday that they will launch a “public opinion” campaign to ask that interim President Adly Mansour change his constitutional declaration issued on July 8 so that they are tasked with writing an entirely new constitution, rather than simply amending the 2012 version. Meanwhile, the Nour Party says it is determined to continue in the Constituent Assembly should there be a national consensus. However, substitute Nour representative to the constitution committee, Salah Abdel Ma’aboud also said if the ‘identity’ articles are amended, all options will be on the table, including the party’s withdrawal from the committee and calling for its followers to reject the constitution. [DNE, Ahram Gate (Arabic), Ahram Online, 9/24/2013]

Also of interest:
Brotherhood’s Beltagy detained for insulting Egypt judiciary | Aswat Masriya, EGYNews (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic)
Wasat Party deputy leader fined for insulting Ahmed Shafiq | Ahram Online
A civil constitution: Experts say verdict is out | Ahram Online
Moussa doesn’t fear rallies against constitution | Egypt Independent

ECONOMY

Government to set prices despite subsidies’ unsustainability
The Egyptian government may set official prices for fruit and vegetables because of the number of complaints the state’s ministry of supply has been receiving about price hikes. The government announced that the decision is an attempt to control inflation. Inflation in July was the highest in two years, according to the Central Bank of Egypt. General Mohamed Abu Shadi, the minister of supply and internal trade, said in a press conference following a cabinet meeting on Monday that his ministry may set the prices of goods for a period of between one and five years.  [Mada Masr,  Ahram Online. 9/24/2013]

Finance Minister: Government targets growth rate of 4 percent
Finance Minister Ahmed Galal said the government aims to raise the economic growth rate of the current fiscal year to something between 3.5 percent and 4 percent versus the previous year’s 2.2 percent figure. The minister added that Egypt’s budget deficit is expected to drop to 10 percent during the current fiscal year. This is opposed to 9.1 percent, which the government had hoped for prior to the passing of Egypt’s minimum income law which sets monthly minimum income rates at EGP 1,200. [SIS, DNE, 9/24/2013]

Also of Interest:
Egyptian market rises stably | DNE, AMAY (Arabic), Ahram Gate (Arabic)
Deposit withdrawals, strict procedures to protect banking sector: Bank Employees Union | DNE
Industry Minister: Suez Canal corridor project top priority | SIS
Agricultural exports of Egypt rose 20 percent in 2012/2013’s fiscal year: Abdel Nour | DNE
Minimum wage will cost the state budget EGP 67 billion annually | Shorouk (Arabic)

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Police arrest two Egyptian journalists mistaken for Jazeera staffers
While covering an ongoing security offensive against North Sinai-based militants, journalist Azza Moghazy and photojournalist Sabry Khaled, both from the independent daily Shorouk, were seized Sunday afternoon in the hotel where they resided. The two journalists, mistakenly believed to work for the Qatari-owned Al Jazeera channel, were briefly arrested Sunday by Egyptian authorities in the Sinai Peninsula. Both journalists were released two hours later “without probe” after security officials apologized for the mistake. [Ahram Online, 9/24/2013]

Also of Interest:
National Coalition to Support Legitimacy calls for protests at UN | EGYNews (Arabic), Aswat Masriya
Popular initiative launches to counter smear campaigns against army | Shorouk  (Arabic)
I am working outside the formal framework and the revolution will succeed: ElBaradei | Ahram Gate (Arabic), Tahrir (Arabic), ONA (Arabic)
‘Students against the Coup’ stage rally at Ain Shams University | Shorouk (Arabic)
NCHR denounces detainment of twenty-five Syrians in Alexandria | Egypt Independent
Blood is thicker than water: Egyptians hesitant to donate blood over political divide | Egypt Independent

SECURITY

Army cuts off communications and internet in Sinai in preparation for massive operation
According to Shorouk,in preparation for a massive operation in Sinai, army officials have decided to cut off communications and internet in sinai. The military operation will target areas in Rafah, Arish, and Sheikh Zuweid. [Shorouk (Arabic), 9/24/2013]

Egypt police raid Islamist stronghold near Cairo
Egypt’s state TV says security forces have raided Nahya, a village near the Giza Pyramids west of Cairo, hunting for suspects in the brutal killing of fifteen policemen last month. The raid by authorities is to assert control over towns and villages seized by supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi. Authorities claim they have arrested all the main suspects involved in violence in the city in the wake of the dispersal of pro-Morsi sit-ins. A security source said forces are continuing operations in Kerdasa to arrest all suspects for alleged roles in violence that erupted in Kerdasa last week. [AP, Egypt Independent, 9/24/2013]

Also of Interest:
Two policemen injured in drive-by shooting in Port Said | Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya
Arrests continue on backdrop of sit-ins dispersal | DNE
Two killed in clashes at al-Qanater al-Khairiya hospital | Egypt Independent
Eight terrorists apprehended | SIS
Nine students imprisoned for fifteen days pending investigation in Qena | EGYNews (Arabic)
Students detained during school and university protests in Egypt | Egypt Independent

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Egypt-US relations top Fahmy-Kerry talks in New York
During a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry on the fringe of the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly, Nabil Fahmy, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, discussed bilateral ties, the latest developments in Egypt as well as other issues of mutual concern, especially conditions in Syria and the Palestinian territories. Kerry stressed progress on Egypt’s transitional roadmap and issues including the arrest of journalists in Egypt. He also raised issues of difficulties facing civil society in Egypt and prospects for lifting the current state of emergency that has been in place since last month. Fahmy also met with members of the Council on Foreign Relations. Egyptian representatives, also, will join other global delegations this afternoon in New York to attend the inauguration of the UN General Assembly, with a clear message: ‘Things are moving forward in Egypt.’ Meanwhile, the investment minister left on Tuesday for New York to participate in the first international conference on Egypt’s economic reform and challenges to the Egyptian economy.  [SIS, DNE, EGYNews (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic), Egypt Independent, Ahram Online, EGYNews (Arabic), 9/24/2013]

Also of Interest:
Belgium lift travel advisory to Egypt | SIS