Clashes erupted in several Egyptian cities on Friday after thousands of supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood took to the streets to demand the end of army-backed rule, in defiance of a security crackdown.

GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION

Presidency says Egypt won’t tolerate threats to victory day celebrations
Egypt will not tolerate any threats to the victory day celebrations on October 6, said Ambassador Ehab al-Badawi, the presidency’s spokesman. The defense and interior ministries will secure celebrations of the victory day, Badawi stated. During a press conference held on Thursday at the presidential palace, Badawi said that interim President Adli Mansour will address the people on occasion of the victory day soon. [Aswat Masriya, 10/4/2013]

Also of Interest:
Board of trustees appointed for Egypt support fund | DNE
Mobilization and counter mobilization will lead to bloodshed: Borhami | EGYNews (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic), Tahrir (Arabic)

COURTS & CONSTITUTION

Raba’a sit-in torture victim says police forced him to accuse Morsi supporters
Ahmed Hassan Mohamed, the victim of torture who had formerly accused five supporters of toppled President Mohamed Morsi of beating him and cutting his finger at Raba’a al-Adaweya sit-in in June, recused his prior statement on Thursday, saying the defendants were in fact innocent. Mohamed said before Cairo Criminal Court that the arrested protesters never tortured him but a police officer forced him to accuse them in an official complaint. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, 10/3/2013]

Criminal court upholds decision to freeze funds of Ghali, Nafie
The Cairo Criminal Court on Thursday upheld a decision by the public prosecution to freeze the assets of former Chairman of the board of the state-owned Al-Ahram news institution, Ahmed Nafie, and former finance minister Boutros Ghali. The court, meanwhile, revoked decisions to freeze assets of three successive Al-Ahram officials, including Morsi Attalah, Salah al-Ghamri and Abdel-Moneim Said in connection with the investigations in the Ahram gifts case. [SIS, 10/4/2013]

ECONOMY

Egypt price controls not being implemented
Recently introduced price controls on fruits and vegetables have been met with skepticism by retailers and consumers alike. The government introduced the controls on 27 September. Every Thursday, a committee of officials from the supply and agriculture ministries, and vendors’ representatives fix prices for the next week. However, the system is not being uniformly enforced. Moreover, there appears to be a lack of inspectors in many areas. Traders and experts believe that if the government tries to apply the decision strictly, a parallel market will be created. [Ahram Online, 10/3/2013]

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Clashes break out in Egypt, Brotherhood supporter killed as calls for protest continue
Clashes erupted in several Egyptian cities on Friday after thousands of supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood took to the streets to demand the end of army-backed rule, in defiance of a security crackdown. In Cairo, protesters marched amidst tightened security towards Raba’a al-Adawiya Square in east Cairo. Security authorities in Cairo and Giza also closed all entries to Tahrir and Abdel Moneim Riad squares ahead of the protests, as well as sealing off streets leading to the presidential palace. Police were stationed at vital spots close to Tahrir, Nahda and Raba’a al-Adaweya squares as well as in front of embassies, the Egyptian Museum, the Egyptian TV building and the Cairo and Giza governorates. Pro-Morsi demonstrations were also reported in other parts of Egypt including Giza, Sharqiya, and Gharbiya governorates, and the cities of Alexandria and Suez, as well as at universities across the country. Egyptian riot police fired tear gas as clashes broke out in what appeared to be a push by Islamist supporters of ousted the ousted president take control of Tahrir square. An Egyptian army vehicle fired live rounds in the direction of Muslim Brotherhood supporters who had been pushed away from Cairo’s Tahrir Square by security forces, a Reuters witness said. Medical sources said one Brotherhood supporter had died from a gunshot wound in clashes in the center of the capital. Clashes also broke out in Giza, Alexandria and two cities in the Nile Delta, as well as in the Cairo suburb of Shubra. Three people were also injured in clashes Thursday evening when a protest supporting ousted president Mohamed Morsi was attacked in the Egyptian city of Mahalla. Egypt’s Islamists had called for fresh demos beginning on Friday, as tensions escalate ahead of rival rallies planned for Sunday to commemorate Egypt’s 1973 war against Israel. The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy – a coalition in support of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi – called on its followers to rally from Friday onwards. The Salafi Nour Party will not take part in any demonstrations on 6 October, said party spokesman Sherif Taha on Thursday evening. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, DNE, EGYNews (Arabic), Tahrir (Arabic), Reuters, Aswat Masriya, AP, 10/4/2013]

Also of Interest:
Police assault Al-Masry Al-Youm photojournalist as he captures suicide attempt | Egypt Independent
National Council for Women renews its support for the armed forces | EGYNews (Arabic)
We refused to meet Ashton: Tamarod | Ahram Gate (Arabic)

SECURITY

Attacks on armed forces continue in Sinai and Ismailia
Two army conscripts were killed, and one conscript and one officer were injured – one of whom is in critical condition – in a drive-by shooting targeting a military APC on the highway connecting Cairo to the Suez Canal city of Ismailia. Two of the assailants who carried out the deadly attack on a military armed personnel carrier (APC) Friday morning in Egypt’s Ismailia were captured by the armed forces, a military official told state news agency MENA, without identifying the suspects. Meanwhile, two armed terrorist elements were killed when an explosive device they were attempting to plant on the side of Sheikh Zuweid-Goura road detonated, the sources said. In a separate incident, a terrorist element was killed after his explosives-filled car was blasted during a police chase, they added. Finally, two army APCs were targeted in an explosion in Arish, but no casualties were reported. [Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya, EGYNews (Arabic), DNE, Shorouk (Arabic), 10/4/2013]  

Also of Interest:
Canadians held in Egypt end hunger strike | Ahram Online
New arms and equipments to secure Sinai and Suez Canal: Borders Guards Commander | EGYNews (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic)

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Egypt’s army chief of staff meets US top military leader
Egypt’s army chief of staff Lieutenant General Sedki Sobhi met on Thursday with Lieutenant General James L. Terry, head of the infantry forces in the US Central Command, Egypt’s state news agency MENA reported. The two men discussed military bilateral cooperation and joint military exercises between Egypt and the United States. [Ahram Online, 10/3/2013]

Egypt and EU important partners: Ashton
Catherine Ashton reiterated the European Union’s support for Egypt during the ongoing transition, stressing that the EU and Egypt are “important” and “strong” partners. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs was speaking at the end of her two-day visit to Cairo, during which she met with a variety of political stakeholders. She said that the EU respects the will of the Egyptian people and is trying to find a way for Egyptian people to enjoy democracy. She also urged Egypt’s army-backed government and Muslim Brotherhood on Thursday to take part in an inclusive political process – but added that the European Union was not involved in mediating any talks. [DNE, Egypt Independent, Reuters, EGYNews (Arabic), 10/3/2013]

Also of Interest:
American embassy in Cairo warns its citizens of Sunday protests | EGYNews (Arabic), Ahram Gate (Arabic)
Bright future for Egypt as an attractive area for investment | Turkish ambassador in Cairo | EGYNews (Arabic), Ahram Gate (Arabic)