The National Coalition to Support Legitimacy called on Egyptians to take part in planned demonstrations on Friday, as thousands took to the street in anti-government protests across the country. 

GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION

Egyptian presidential adviser says Brotherhood reconciliation still possible 
Egyptian presidential adviser Mostafa Hegazy called on the Muslim Brotherhood to join in “an Egypt for all Egyptians,” urging the group to abandon the attitude of “collision” they have adopted. Speaking in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Thursday, Hegazy said despite the Brotherhood’s “discrimination” against Egyptians, they still have a chance to “seize the moment” and join in the political process started after their ejection from power. [Ahram Online, CNN Video, 9/27/2013]

Egypt Brotherhood youth reach out across ideology 
With the start of school this week, young activists of the Muslim Brotherhood have taken the lead in the group’s protests against the military coup that ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. But their re-energized rallies at schools and universities are notably missing something: Pictures of the toppled leader and slogans demanding his return. Instead, Brotherhood students are rebranding their rallies into protests warning that the coup will bring back the widely hated police state of former autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Brotherhood youth say it is vital the group tap into student sentiment, saying the young can provide the critical mass in larger protests. [AP, 9/26/2013]

Also of Interest:
New ‘anti-military’, ‘anti-Brotherhood’ front chooses spokespersons | Ahram Online
Travel bans on Egypt lifting soon, government claims | Mada Masr
Ahmed Maher decries media’s negative portrayal of him | Ahram Gate 

COURTS & CONSTITUTION

Salmawy says addendum to issue new constitution possible; Nour Party opposed
Mohamed Salmawy, the spokesman for the fifty member constitutional committee, said that a legal team is looking into issuing a constitutional addendum that will allow for the writing of an entirely new constitution, rather than simply amending the country’s 2012 constitution. While the majority of the committee is in favour of the addendum, the ultra-conservative Salafi Nour Party is opposed, saying that it violates the roadmap. Salmawy also revealed that the majority of participants in a meeting of the governance panel are agreed on the idea of establishing an anti-corruption commission. He left the question of political isolation of members of the Mubarak and Morsi regimes to the yet-to-be elected parliament. [Ahram Online, Shorouk (Arabic), SIS, Gulf News, 9/26/2013]

Also of Interest:
Morsi is in a safe place, can communicate with lawyers, and will not be tried before military tribunal: Spokesman | Ahram Gate 
Muslim brotherhood figure Safwat Khalil dies in Mansoura prison | Tahrir (Arabic) 

ECONOMY

Finance Minister says Cabinet to pump EGP 22 billion into developing infrastructure
Finance Minister Ahmed Galal said that the Cabinet would pump EGP 22 billion into developing infrastructure and public health services, as well as covering the government’s debts to contractors and improving living conditions in impoverished areas, reported the privately owned Al-Masry Al-Youm. The Cabinet was regulating the state budget, thus decreasing pressure on the Egyptian pound and hence phasing out black market activities, Galal added. The minister also claimed that Egypt does not need aid from the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank, as less expensive resources are now available, reported the state-run news site EGYnews. [Mada Masr, 9/26/2013]

Also of Interest:
Government cuts commodity prices as part of stimulus plan |Egypt Independent
EGX 30 resumes rise to reach 5,704 points | Ahram Online
EGP 500 million for reoperation of closed plants, faltering ventures | SIS
Real estate investors shun Egypt as foreign firms retreat | Reuters
Negotiations between trade union and businessmen to set minimum wage in the private sector | Tahrir (Arabic) 
15,000 new jobs for youth: manpower ministry | Tahrir (Arabic)  

SOCIETY & MEDIA 

Pro-Morsi rallies continue as Islamist alliance calls for week-long protests
The National Coalition to Support Legitimacy called on Egyptians to take part in planned demonstrations on Friday. According to the coalition, the demonstrations, which are held under the title of “Bless the youth… the revolution’s backbone,” are set to continue for one week in governorates all over Egypt. Thousands took to the street in anti-government protests across Egypt on Friday. The protesters held up banners and chanted slogans against the military coup that ousted then-President Mohamed Morsi. In response to Friday’s protests, security forces tightened security near the Cairo airport. The Muslim Brotherhood is also preparing for protests against the army on the anniversary of the 1973 October war, with plans to occupy Tahrir Square.  [Aswat Masriya, AMAY (Arabic), Al Jazeera, Shorouk, 9/27/2013]

Egypt extends detention of Jazeera journalist 
Egyptian prosecutors have extended the detention of an Al Jazeera journalist for another forty-five days, his lawyer said Thursday, amid accusations of a crackdown on the channel for pro-Islamist reporting. Abdullah Elshamy, an Egyptian citizen, was arrested on August 14 along with about 700 protesters when police and soldiers dispersed two Islamist protest camps in Cairo, sparking clashes that killed hundreds of protesters. “The decision to extend the detention of 665 people arrested in Rabaa came last night,” his lawyer Mostafa Attiya told AFP. [AFP, 9/26/2013]

Also of Interest:
Minister halts investigation of teachers for refusing pro-army anthem | Ahram Online
Press Syndicate express solidarity with FJP journalists | DNE

SECURITY

Grenade hurled at Egypt police checkpoint wounds four 
Egypt’s state media say attackers hurled a grenade at a police checkpoint north of Cairo, wounding two policemen and two civilians. The state MENA news agency says the attackers were riding on a motorbike Friday when they threw the grenade on a bridge in the Qalyubiya province. Meanwhile a soldier was injured in al-Arish in Sinai when unidentified gunmen shot at him on Thursday. A security source who preferred to remain anonymous also told Al Tahrir that a military operation is to take place in Mount Sinai in an effort to target suspects responsible for attacks in Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah. Finally, three suspects, among them one Palestinian, were arrested for allegedly assaulting police and military forces and installations in North Sinai on Friday. [AP, Tahrir (Arabic), Aswat Masriya, 9/27/2013]

Also of Interest:
Student abducted from Assiut school | Egypt Independent
Authorities will raid Giza town to end Kerdasa operation: source | Egypt Independent

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Foreign Ministry rejects Tunisian president’s statement on Egypt 
The Foreign Ministry expressed resentment over the remarks made by Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki on which he called on Egypt to release what he called “political prisoners.” The ministry affirmed in a statement that the remarks of the Tunisian president contradicts with the reality and represents a challenge to the will of the Egyptian people. [SIS, Anadolu Agency, Shorouk (Arabic), DNE, Ahram Gate (Arabic), 9/27/2013] 

Egyptian and Ethiopian FMs discuss common interests: Spokesman 
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings in New York, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy and his Ethiopian counterpart Tedros Adhanom agree on the importance of overcoming recent tension between their countries over a new dam being constructed by Ethiopia over the Blue Nile. Tensions had run high between Egypt and Ethiopia earlier this year over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Fahmy also conferred with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas where they discussed the ongoing negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides. The Egyptian minister expressed his country’s full support to the Palestinian stance in the peace talks which, he said, should lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Fahmy met also with his German, South Sudanese and Eritrean counterparts, where he discussed with them the latest developments in Egypt and the government’s commitment to implement the roadmap. [Ahram Online, Shorouk (Arabic), DNE, Egypt Independent, SIS 9/27/2013]

Also of Interest:
France lifts travel ban against Egypt | SIS
Egypt’s interim president chooses Saudi Arabia for first official foreign visit | Ahram Online, Arab News
US shows support to Egypt at international institutions: US diplomat | SIS
Foreign Minister meets US peace envoy | Ahram Gate 
Ashton may visit Cairo soon | Ahram Gate