An overwhelming majority of Egyptians who voted on the country’s new constitution have backed the draft charter, a senior Egyptian official said Thursday.
GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION
General Prosecution denies reports of politicians’ and journalists’ travel ban
Twenty Egyptians were banned from traveling by a judge on Wednesday, according to Ahram Online, amid investigations into accusations of insulting the judiciary and interfering in the judicial process. The list includes judges, journalists, lawyers, former parliamentarians and activists from a variety of political affiliations and backgrounds. The General Prosecution, however, released a statement denying that any travel bans were imposed on these individuals as reported earlier in the day by several national newspapers. [Ahram Online, Mada Masr, 1/16/2014]
Unfreezing US aid to Egypt will be a positive step: Army spokesman
Military spokesman Ahmed Ali expressed his content with a soon to be implemented decision by the United States to resume economic aid to Egypt. In a phone interview with private-owned TV channel Al-Hayat, Ali said that “unfreezing the aid is a positive step. It reflects more understanding as to what’s happening in Egypt and also a respect to the army’s role in protecting the will of the people.” He added that the relationship between the Egyptian and American army is a historic one that will not “fade away because of a dispute.” [Ahram Online, 1/15/2014]
Also of Interest:
Interior minister calls on supporters to take to streets on January 25 | Egypt Independent
Minister of interior says June 30 maybe designated new Egypt’s police day | Ahram Online
Saudi columnist: Sisi too important to be president | Egypt Independent
Sources: Top prosecutor removes Shafiq’s name from watchlists | Egypt Independent
Alexandria lawyers’ group accuses Homeland Security officers of torturing detainees | DNE
Government to increase social security pension to EGP 450 a month | AMAY (Arabic), Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
Two Brotherhood members in Minya interrogated over bribery charges | Egypt Independent
Beblawy: Order of presidential and parliamentary elections to be determined after referendum | Egypt Independent
Amr Moussa: I will not run for president | Egypt Independent
COURTS & CONSTITUTION
Initial referendum results show high approval rate, turnout uncertain
An overwhelming majority of Egyptians who voted on the country’s new constitution have backed the draft charter, a senior Egyptian official said Thursday. The election official told the Associated Press that unofficial results, after most of ballots have been counted, indicate that more than 90 percent of the voters have said ‘yes’ to the constitution. Initial results of the referendum in twenty-five governorates indicate a sweeping “yes” vote. The High Elections Committee announced that Cairo voters backed the new constitution with a 97.57 percent ‘yes’ vote. The election official declined to give an estimate on the final turnout. On the second day of voting, there were reports of lower voter turnout in the canal cities of Port Said, Ismailia, and Suez. According to Al-Ahram, Civil society organizations observing the referendum reported a 65 percent turnout in rural areas and 75 percent turnout in cities. Military spokesman Ahmed Mohamed Ali praised the Egyptian people for the “overwhelming” turnout during the two-day referendum on the amended charter. Before the release of official results, Strong Egypt challenged the result of the referendum before the Administrative Court. Meanwhile, the semi-governmental National Council for Human Rights said Wednesday that Egypt’s constitutional referendum saw a high turnout and that its transparency was not negatively affected by reported violations. Amnesty International has been monitoring the environment in which the referendum was held, and has shown concern primarily over the restrictions over a ‘No’ vote and the deadly clashes which occurred on Tuesday. There are also reports of politically-motivated child exploitation during the referendum. The High Elections Committee will announce official referendum results within the next seventy-two hours. [AP, Ahram Online, 1/16/2014]
Second day of voting calmer, sees two deaths and eight injuries
The second and final day of voting in Egypt’s constitutional referendum passed more peacefully than the first, with the Ministry of Health reporting two deaths, of natural causes, and eight injuries in Assiut, Mounifeya, Kafr al-Sheikh, Alexandria, Gharbeya and Minya. The total death count during the referendum vote is thirteen. On Wednesday, Giza security services said they arrested twenty-five Muslim Brotherhood sympathizers for hampering the voting process. Loyalists of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, protesting against the referendum, set fire to tires in front of several polling stations in Kerdasa during the vote count. Pro-Muslim Brotherhood protesters also set fire to a police car in Alexandria after they smashed it and tried to assault the two officers who were inside the car, police sources said. Clashes erupted in Cairo’s Heliopolis and security forces blocked the roads leading to the presidential palace. Egypt’s interior ministry announced that a total of 444 Muslim Brotherhood members were arrested over the two days. [Ahram Online, 1/16/2014].
Journalist detained for filming outside polling stations
Police on Wednesday detained a freelance Egyptian TV cameraman covering the country’s constitutional referendum for the Associated Press. Hassan Abdullah Hassan told the Associated Press by phone that he was arrested after police saw his footage being broadcast live on Al-Jazeera’s Egyptian affiliate and wrongly concluded that he was an Al-Jazeera employee. He was arrested while filming military armored vehicles stationed outside a polling station. Many journalists reported being harassed by both security forces and sometimes voters themselves while reporting at polling stations during the constitutional referendum. Other incidents of journalist harassment in Egypt, according to the Economist, include the arrest of a film crew belonging to a Washington public relations firms hired by the Egyptian government. [AP, 1/16/2014]
Also of interest:
HEC rejects sending ballot box for convenience of Mubarak, wife | Egypt Independent
Members of Shubra al-Khaima terrorist cell sent to fifteen days imprisonment | MENA
Essam Sultan trial on charges of insulting the judiciary postponed to February 9 | Shorouk (Arabic)
ECONOMY
Egypt year in review 2013
One of the reasons that the second largest economy in the Arab world has gained much attention over the past three turbulent years is its global importance. The past year has been another challenging twelve months for Egypt, but going into 2014, the outlook is more bullish for a country that still offers attractive long-term fundamentals. One of the reasons that the second-largest economy in the Arab world, with a population of around eighty-five million and a geographical position on major trade routes, has gained so much attention over the past three turbulent years is its global importance. [OBG, 1/16/2014]
Also of interest:
Industry Minister plans to increase trade, investment between Egypt, Britain | SIS
’EGX’ gains EGP 1.3 billion on second day of referendum | SIS
Egypt Post to implement minimum, maximum wages | Cairo Post
Egypt sees new EU grants worth EUR 500 million ($681 million) during Q1 | Amwal Al Ghad
SOCIETY & MEDIA
Student protests at Cairo universities, Brotherhood accused of inciting violence at universities
Dozens of pro-Muslim Brotherhood students at Ain Shams University staged a march on Thursday to protest the killing of their colleague Abdel Rahman Yousry last Sunday and to demand the release of detained students. At Cairo University, one student was killed and four injured in clashes between Brotherhood supporters and other students before police could arrive. Muslim Brotherhood affiliated students clashed with colleagues who expressed their dismay at Brotherhood students’ attempts to disrupt exams at both Cairo and Ain Shams University. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior reported that it uncovered Brotherhood plans to incite violence in universities. [Egypt Independent, AMAY (Arabic), 1/16/2014]
Also of interest:
Salafi Call accuses the media of ‘trying to bring down’ Nour Party | Egypt Independent
Archaeologists uncover new pharaoh in Egypt | Reuters
Mother jails April 6 son, reported him for his political views | Mada Masr
Police officer’s family attacked in Sinai | DNE
SECURITY
Six tunnels destroyed in Sinai, officials seize weapons and ammunition in Salah al-Din
Border guards troops destroyed six tunnels between Sinai and Gaza, in addition to seizing weapons and ammunition in Sinai, said an armed forces spokesperson. The tunnels, located under the city of Rafah, were destroyed by the troops belonging to the Second Field Army, in coordination with the Engineering Authority. The troops also raided a storage unit in Salah al-Din area, where they found weapons and ammunition. [Egypt Independent, 1/16/2014]
Also of interest:
Militant killed and five arrested in North Sinai security campaign | DNE
REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Egyptian military offers aid support to South Sudan
A C-130 military jet headed on Thursday to Juba Airport, stocked with tents, covers, food supply and medical requirements, to support humanitarian aid in South Sudan. This mission was ordered by Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The Egyptian aid is offered for the second time, as Egypt supports halting struggle ongoing there and calls for self-restraint and dialogue to avoid bloodshed. [Egypt Independent, Ahram (Arabic), 1/16/2014]
Putin congratulates Egypt on success of referendum
Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a ceremony with the Egyptian ambassador to Moscow, congratulated the Egyptian people on their new constitution. “We hope the Egyptian society will overcome current political and socio-economic difficulties and the country will return on the path of stability and growth,” Putin said at the ceremony. He also described Egypt as one of Russia’s oldest strategic partners in the region. The ambassador reiterated the invitation for Putin to visit Egypt. [Shorouk (Arabic), Egypt Independent, 1/16/2014]
Image: Photo: Bora S. Kamel