Tens of thousands of protesters and Muslim Brotherhood supporters rallied Friday throughout Egypt against a military coup and a bloody security crackdown, though tanks and armored police vehicles barred them from converging in major squares.
GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION

 Muslim Brotherhood slams Salafi figure over pro-army stance
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has attacked the Salafi-led Nour Party, after the former ally’s leadership issued a statement supporting the armed forces and Defense Minister General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The Brotherhood accused Nour officials of being agents of presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq and the disbanded Mubarak-era state security apparatus. On Wednesday, Borhamy issued a statement supporting the armed forces and Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as well as the dismissal of President Mohamed Morsi. Brotherhood officials have called Borhamy’s comments a “moral degradation.” [Egypt Independent, 8/30/2013]

 Al-Jama’a al-Islamiya member details reconciliation initiative
Al-Jama’a al-Islamiya leader Aboud al-Zomor stated on Thursday that the group is working on a reconciliation initiative to put an end to the political crisis and stop acts of violence and bloodshed, Al-Masry Al-Youm reported. According to the Islamist figure, all sit-ins and protests in support of ousted President Mohamed Morsi need to be peaceful and attacks on public facilities need to end, while the media campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood must also cease, the privately owned publication reported. [Mada Masr, 8/30/2013]

Also of Interest:
Rebel backtracks on support for possible Sisi presidential bid | Ahram Online
Former MB figure al-Helbawi says group should apologize to nation Ahram Online
Ali al-Salmy: No reconciliation or involvement with the Brotherhood before retribution | EGYNews (Arabic)

COURTS & CONSTITUTION

 Beltagy, other Brotherhood leaders arrested
Several media sources confirmed the arrest of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed al-Beltagy in Giza on Thursday. Beltagy, who faces charges of inciting violence, was reportedly arrested alongside Khaled al-Azhari, former minister of manpower, and Gamal al-Ashry, a Brotherhood leader. Beltagy has been put in a solitary confinement. He was deported from Giza Security Directorate to Tora Prison. He is scheduled to be investigated in connection both with violence in early August at the Republican Guards headquarters in which 51 pro-Morsi protesters were killed, and a separate incident in which police clashed with Raba’a al-Adaweya protesters. Brotherhood doctor, Ali Ibrahim Abdel Zaher was also arrested in Minya on charges of allegedly attacking a police officer in the Matay Hospital. [Mada Masr, SIS, Ahram Online, DNE, Egypt Independent, Reuters, Ahram (Arabic), 8/29/2013]

Also of interest:
Founder of the April 6 movement welcomes the investigation and and describes it as a ‘wonderful opportunity’ | EGYNews (Arabic)

ECONOMY

 EGP 22.353 billion added to investment budget as an urgent measure
The newly approved economic program will target an economic growth rate up to 3.5 percent from the 2.2 percent seen during the 2012/2013 fiscal year. Ashraf al-Araby, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation said that EGP 22.353 billion have been added to the investment plan budget as an urgent measure. The priority will be projects that have a positive impact on citizens and industries that encourage local production, he said. [Egypt Independent, 8/29/2013]

Also of Interest:
China oil giant buys into strife-hit Egypt for $3.1 billion | DNE
Egypt stocks rise 0.8 percent on cabinet’s stimulus package | Ahram Online
Egypt’s curfew takes toll on transport, shipping businesses | Ahram Online
Egypt’s tourism minister makes YouTube plea to travel industry | Travel Weekly

SOCIETY & MEDIA

 Egypt detains four Al-Jazeera English journalists in Cairo
The Qatar-based Al-Jazeera English network says four of its journalists have been arrested by Egyptian authorities after they covered events in Cairo. Al-Jazeera English says correspondent Wayne Hay, cameraman Adil Bradlow and producers Russ Finn and Baher Mohamed were detained on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Arab Network for Human Rights Information released a statement condemning the closure of Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr in Egypt, saying that any bias on the part of Al Jazeera toward the Muslim Brotherhood did not justify the decision. [AP, AMAY (Arabic), 8/29/2013]

 Egypt Brotherhood protests draw tens of thousands
Tens of thousands of protesters and Muslim Brotherhood supporters rallied Friday throughout Egypt against a military coup and a bloody security crackdown, though tanks and armored police vehicles barred them from converging in major squares. The protests appeared smaller than the mass demonstrations seen in previous weeks, despite a massive push by the Brotherhood for “decisive” rallies across the country after Friday prayers. The largest protest in the capital, Cairo, had more than 10,000 protesters. The pro-Morsi Alliance to Support Legitimacy called for peaceful protests, reiterating its condemnation of violence. Clashes have broken out throughout the country, with police firing teargas on pro-Morsi protesters in Tanta and Assiut. Clashes broke out between Morsi supporters and opponents in Giza, Gharbia, and Alexandria. Dozens were injured in clashes in Mansoura, while clashes in Port Said left one dead and twenty-two injured. Clashes in Zaqaziq left one dead and eight injured, while clashes in Damanhour left three injured. [AP, Ikhwanweb, Ahram Online, 8/30/2013]

SECURITY

 Interior Minister: Morsi supporters will not be allowed to break curfew, stage sit-ins
Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said the police will not allow anyone to be on the street on Friday after 7 p.m., the hour the curfew starts. He added that the Interior Ministry is fully ready to firmly face any attempts against public security or encroachment on government, police or religious installations, using live ammunition in accordance to its right to self-defense. In anticipation of the marches, the army blocked off the entrances to Cairo’s main squares as well as two metro stations. The army also sealed off the road leading to the Defense Ministry and the presidential palace. Supporters of Egypt’s deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi vowed more rallies and called for marches on Friday despite a harsh police crackdown on their movement. [ DNE, Egypt Independent, Mada Masr, Aswat Masriya, Ahram (Arabic), 8/30/2013]

 Three militants killed in Sinai, twenty-two arrested
Three militants were killed and twenty two were arrested by security forces in North Sinai on Thursday. In Be’r Lehfen in south Arish, security forces said they killed two militants and arrested nine on Thursday morning. A third militant was killed south of Sheikh Zuweid city in North Sinai, after an exchange of fire between a group of militants and security forces on Thursday night. Five militants were arrested after they attacked a police club in Arish and security forces have also arrested seven alleged backers of recent attacks on police in Arish. [Ahram Online, DNE, Aswat Masriya, 8/30/2013]

Also of Interest:
Egypt army warns of ‘fake soldiers’ ahead of Islamist demonstrations | Ahram Online
Two killed in drive-by shooting in Cairo’s Heliopolis | Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, Aswat Masriya, AP

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

US envoy in Egypt blasts state newspaper Al-Ahram 
The United States’ ambassador to Egypt, Anne Patterson, has sent a strongly-worded letter to the editor of Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram criticizing a front page article that suggested Patterson was engaging in conspiracies with the Muslim Brotherhood. Editor-in-chief Abdel Nasser Salama, who wrote the article published on Tuesday, accused Patterson in the article of conspiring with leading Brotherhood figure Khairat al-Shater to “spread chaos” in Egypt through smuggling fighters from Gaza to “hit the country’s stability.” In her letter, Patterson attacked Al-Ahram for spreading what she said was false and misleading information. [Ahram Online, 8/30/2013]

Moran: EU committed to supporting Egyptian economy  
EU Ambassador in Cairo James Moran has reiterated the organization’s commitment to continue support for the Egyptian economy, in an attempt to create a favorable economic climate restoring confidence in investment and establishing economic stability. Moran also stressed the need to double up trade and investments between Egypt and the European Union, adding that the EU is keen to inject more investments in the Egyptian market in order to create more job opportunities. [Egypt Independent, 8/30/2013]

Also of Interest:
Egypt bans Israeli ship from docking for repairs | AP
Egypt fires at Palestinian fishermen off Gaza -medics | Reuters

Image: Photo: Ikhwanweb