Egypt’s government has denied media reports that it has decided to dissolve the Muslim Brotherhood, and that the decision will be announced next week.
GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION
‘No decision’ in Egypt on dissolving Muslim Brotherhood
Egypt’s government has denied media reports that it has decided to dissolve the Muslim Brotherhood, and that the decision will be announced next week. A social solidarity ministry spokesman was quoted as saying it would revoke the Islamist group’s non-governmental organization status “within days”. But a prime ministerial aide, Sherif Shawki, told the BBC the solidarity minister had not issued any decision, while a social solidarity ministry official also denied the news in Egyptian state media. [BBC, EGYNews (Arabic), Ahram (Arabic), 9/6/2013]
Also of Interest:
Egypt’s cabinet affirms commitment to fight terrorism | Ahram Online, Egypt Independent
April 6 founding member resigns | Mada Masr
Egyptian presidency vows not to let terrorism return | Ahram Online
COURTS & CONSTITUTION
Former prosecutor: I put surveillance cameras in my office to protect myself and my staff
Former top prosecutor Talaat Abdallah said Wednesday that he had put surveillance cameras in his office, not covert listening devices. Abdallah stressed that he resorted to surveillance cameras so as to protect himself and his staff from assaults as there had been attempts to storm his office. Abdallah added that his use of surveillance cameras were not unlike state facilities and hotels. [Egypt Independent, 9/5/2013]
Tamarod launches “Write Your Constitution” campaign
On Friday, grassroots movement Tamarod announced it is launching its second campaign. The “Write Your Constitution” campaign will collect proposals from around the country in order to submit them to the Committee of Fifty tasked with amending Egypt’s constitution. In its official statement, Tamarod said that the campaign aims to ensure that the constitution represents all Egyptians from across different sectors of society. [Shorouk (Arabic), 9/6/2013]
Also of interest:
Retrial of eleven Port Said massacre defendants set for Saturday | Egypt Independent
Azhar Grand Mufti emphasizes need for consensus and inclusion in constitutional process | EGYNews (Arabic)
ECONOMY
Officials: Egypt to import 180,000 tonnes of wheat
The Supply Commodities General Authority announced Egypt would import 180 thousand tons of Romanian and Russian wheat to make subsidized bread in an international tender, state-run news website EGYnews reported Thursday. The tender offered 120 thousand tons of Russian wheat at US$251 and 80 cents per ton, and the freight at $11 and 92 cents per ton, the website mentioned. It added the deal included 60 thousand tons of Roman wheat at $252 per ton and the freight at $11 and 75 cents per ton. [Egypt Independent, 9/5/2013]
Also of Interest:
Stock market surpasses expectations and earns EGP 900 million ($130 million) | Egypt Independent
UAE funds new solar power station in Siwa | Egypt Independent¸
SOCIETY & MEDIA
Morsi supporters protest across country
Supporters of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and the nation’s ousted president are protesting across the country against the military-backed government. Thousands of protesters flowed out of mosques after Friday prayers in the cities of Ismailia, Beheira, Damietta, Suez, Assiut, Alexandria and the capital Cairo, among others. In Cairo and Giza, demonstrations are underway in Shoubra, Nasr City, Heliopolis, Mohandessin and Haram. Scuffles erupted outside Alexandria‘s Al-Qaed Ibrahim Mosque after noon prayers on Friday when local residents attacked dozens of Morsi’s supporters. Clashes also erupted in Suez. The military forces sealed off the streets leading to the presidential palace and set up barbed wires outside it earlier on Friday, as well as securing Tahrir, Raba’a al-Adaweya and the areas surrounding the Shura Council, House of Representatives and Interior Ministry. [AP, Aswat Masriya, Ahram Online, Shorouk (Arabic), EGYNews (Arabic), 9/6/2013]
In South Egypt, Islamists take over a town
A town of some 120,000—including 20,000 Christians—Dalga has been outside government control since hard-line supporters of the Islamist Mohamed Morsi drove out police and occupied their station on July 3. Since then, the radicals have imposed their grip on Dalga, twice driving off attempts by the army to send in armored personnel carriers by showering them with gunfire. Dalga is the most extreme example of Islamist power in Minya—no other towns are known to be under such extreme lockdown. But the province in general has seen a surge in Islamist violence since the coup against Morsi. [AP, 9/6/2013]
Also of Interest:
Hundreds stage demonstration in solidarity with interior minister in Maadi | Ahram (Arabic)
Egypt needs justice not politics in investigating deaths | CPJ
SECURITY
Egyptian military arrests leading Revolutionary Socialist member and Sinai-based journalist
Labor lawyer Haitham Mohamadein, a leading member of Egypt’s Revolutionary Socialists, was arrested at a military checkpoint close to Suez and is currently being detained, the group announced on Thursday. Mohamadein, who is also a member of El-Nadeem Centre for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence, was on his way from Cairo to Suez on Thursday when he was arrested at a military checkpoint on Suez Road. He was then transferred to Attaqa police station in Suez. Mohamadein is expected to be referred to the prosecution on Friday. The charges he faces are yet to be officially confirmed and the army has not made any statements yet on the issue. On Thursday, in a separate incident Sinai-based Al-Masry Al-Youm and ONTV journalist Ahmed Abu Draa was arrested. Military prosecution in Ismailia ordered his detention for fifteen days after he was charged with publishing false information about the military. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, Mada Masr, DNE, 9/6/2013]
One civilian dead, one detained, after assassination attempt on interior minister
One civilian has died from wounds sustained in an assassination attempt on the minister of interior. The Ministry of Interior believes that the attack was “likely to be a suicide bomb.” Islamic Jihad group founder said that the attack bears the hallmark of a Hamas or al-Qaeda attack. The ministry said that body parts found at the site of bomb attack on the interior minister’s convoy on Thursday may belong to the perpetrator, adding that they believe “terrorist elements” were involved, The minister claimed the assailants may have been foreign. Meanwhile, a National Alliance to Support Legitimacy leader accused Egyptian authorities of fabricating the assassination attempt, warning that the incident may be a “plot” by the current authorities to justify a massacre they intend to commit against protesters on Friday. An investigation team from the prosecution visited the site of the attack, and concluded that there had been three bomb explosions. The owner of the car used in the attack was detained on Friday. A security source at the ministry revealed that he is a university student living in Hadayeq al-Qobba, and that the car had been reported stolen. [DNE, Egypt Independent, Ahram Online, AMAY (Arabic), Ahram (Arabic), 9/6/2013]
Also of Interest:
Islamist militants claim responsibility for Suez Canal attack | Ahram Online
117 Egypt police deaths since August 14: Security source | Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya, EGYNews (Arabic)
Gunmen attack Sinai checkpoint for forty-eighth time since revolution | Egypt Independent
Bomb explodes in Arish near international airport, no casualties reported | Aswat Masriya, Mada Masr, EGYNews (Arabic)
Mount Sinai monastery latest victim of Egypt’s upheavals | The Guardian
Security forces raid home of FJP secretary in Sharqiya, no arrest made | Ahram (Arabic)
Three detained for producing and distributing Raba’a t-shirts in Helwan | Ahram (Arabic)
Hisham Qandil’s adviser arrested on charges of possessing confidential cabinet documents | Ahram (Arabic)
Egypt’s decision to grant university guards arrest powers sparks fears | Ahram Online
Widespread condemnation in Egypt for bomb attack | Ahram Online, Mada Masr, DNE
Presidency vows to find would-be assassins | Egypt Independent
Sisi to Interior Minister: Armed Forces supports Interior Ministry in fighting crime | Egypt Independent
REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Mansour to US Congress delegation: Egypt opposes unilateral decision by US on Syria
Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour told a US Congress delegation that Egypt does not support an individual US decision on a military attack on Syria, state news agency MENA reported. The eight-member delegation from the US, headed by US Representative Dana Rohrabacher, arrived in Cairo early on Thursday. The group met with President Mansour and military chief and defence minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in two separate meetings, as well as with Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II. According to Mansour’s statement, the delegation said it “appreciates” the country’s transitional roadmap and “praised” the interim government’s avoidance of “revenge and exclusion.” It added that the delegation “understands the critical phase Egypt is passing through” and that it hopes the country’s current leadership succeeds in fulfilling the people’s aspirations. The delegation left Cairo for Qatar on Friday. [Ahram Online, SIS, Ahram (Arabic), World Bulletin, AMAY (Arabic), 9/6/2013]
Neither tunnels nor a buffer zone with Gaza: Egypt officials
Egyptian government officials told Ahram Online that Cairo is working closely with the UN to help Gaza find an alternative to the tunnels linking it with Egypt. According to the security source, over 50 percent of the tunnels have been destroyed and “we are currently taking the necessary security arrangements to make sure these tunnels will not be rebuilt.” While the security source declined to say if these new security arrangements would resume the construction of thick metal bars on the border to prevent the reconstruction of tunnels, other government officials say the measures will be “varied,” but would not amount to establishing a “buffer zone” between Egypt and Gaza. Gaza’s Hamas prime minister on Thursday played down tensions between the Islamist movement and Egypt that have developed between the two sides followed the ouster of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi. At the same time, the Gaza energy authority warned that the enclave’s sole power plant is in danger of shutting down within days because of a fuel shortage indirectly caused by those tensions. [Ahram Online, AFP, 9/5/2013]
Also of Interest:
Egyptian, Libyan PMs hold official talks | SIS
Sisi, Libyan PM discuss cooperation | SIS
Greek FM shows keenness on boosting ties with Egypt: FM | SIS
Muslimani: Egypt appreciates Kuwaiti stance | SIS