The United States is leaning toward withholding most military aid to Egypt except to promote counter-terrorism, security in the Sinai Peninsula that borders Israel, and other such priorities, a US official said on Tuesday.

GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION

Social Solidarity Ministry officially dissolves Brotherhood NGO
Egypt’s Social Solidarity Minister, Ahmed al-Boraie, issued on Wednesday an irrevocable decision dissolving the Muslim Brotherhood Society, which was registered as a non-governmental organization in March 2013. According to a statement by al-Boraie, alleged violations by the Brotherhood including using its headquarter as a warehouse for weapons, firing live ammunition from its headquarters, as well as the use of violence by its members against the public were the main reasons for dissolving it.  In a press conference, al-Boraie also asserted that the Muslim Brotherhood members, who are not involved in any criminal activities, have the right to establish NGOs. Meanwhile, judicial sources said that the political parties committee asked the prosecutor general to investigate the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) for allegedly violating public order and going against regulations set in the political parties law. If these accusations are proved true, the FJP could face dissolution as well. [Shorouk  (Arabic), Tahrir (Arabic), 10/9/2013]  

NSF suggests holding presidential elections first, Nour party refuses
Free Egyptians Party head Ahmed Saeed and the National Salvation Front (NSF) leading figure Wahid Abdel Meguid suggested that presidential elections be held before parliamentary elections during their meeting with Constituent Assembly head, Amr Moussa, on Monday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Nour party refused the proposal. The party’s presidential council member Salah Abdel Maboud call on adhering strictly to the roadmap announced on July 3. [DNE, Shorouk (Arabic), Ahram Gate  (Arabic), Tahrir (Arabic), 10/9/2013]  

COURTS & CONSTITUTION

Constituent assembly reaches consensus over appointment of minister of defense
After much deliberation and disagreement, the constituent assembly has reached a compromise on Article 195, relating to how the defense minister is chosen. According to informed sources, the assembly agreed, after a proposal from military representative Major General Mamdouh Shahin, that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces will have the right to choose the minister, only for a period of eight years (two presidential terms). The assembly has yet to reach a consensus over the question of military trials in the constitution. Meanwhile, Nation Without Torture, an anti-torture campaign established in November 2012, has called for a clear definition of crimes against humanity in the constitution and an outline of punishment for those who commit such crimes. [Shorouk (Arabic), DNE, 10/9/2013]

More Brotherhood arrests in Cairo, Beni Suef and Aswan
Leading Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) members Amr Zaki and Hamdi Zahran were arrested on Wednesday, reported state-owned news agency MENA. Ex-MP Amr Zaki, a prominent Muslim Brotherhood leader and secretary of the FJP’s Cairo Committee, was arrested in New Cairo, while Hamdi Zahran, a professor and a former FJP MP, was arrested in his hometown of Beni Suef. According to Al-Ahram, Zahran is accused by the prosecution of inciting the torching of state institutions on August 14. Aswan Security services also Ahmed Mahmoud Ali, lawyer and brother of former MP Mohamed al-Omda on Tuesday. He is charged with inciting violence and leading marches supporting deposed President Mohamed Morsi. Meanwhile, Azbakeya and Hadayeq al-Qobba Prosecutions on Tuesday ordered the detention of 120 suspects for four days pending investigations into clashes that broke out in Ramses Square and Hadayeq al-Qobba on October 6. The Qasr al-Nil Prosecutor’s Office ordered on Tuesday that another 155 protesters be placed under fifteen days days’ preventive detention, after being arrested for their role in the October 6 demonstrations around Tahrir Square. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, DNE, 10/9/2013[

Egypt sets November 4 trial date for Morsi and other Brotherhood leaders
The trial of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi will begin on November 4, judicial sources said on Wednesday. Morsi, seven other senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist figures will be tried for the killing and torturing of demonstrators outside the presidential palace in Cairo on December 5, 2012. Senior Brotherhood figure Mohamed al-Beltagy and Essam al-Erian, deputy head of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Brotherhood’s political arm, are among the co-defendants in the trial. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, AP, Reuters, Aswat Masriya, 10/9/2013]

Also of Interest:
Court postpones trial of Tanta activists | Egypt Independent
Court postpones freeze on Hussein Salem’s assets to December 11 | Egypt Independent

ECONOMY

IMF ready to work with Egypt’s government: Lagarde
Christine Lagarde, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)  managing director said that the IMF is strongly committed to working with the new Egyptian authorities to support the Arab world’s most populous nation in its “difficult transition.” Lagarde added that “The IMF staff is ready to work with the authorities here or anywhere else. I am ready to send a team to Cairo as soon as the authorities wish to advance our common understanding of the current economic situation. Meanwhile, Egypt has reduced its delegation to IMF meeting this year in protest of unfair treatment by the international body, Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi said Friday. IMF officials had recently voted against discussing assistance for Egypt in their annual meetings set for 10-12 October in Washington. [Ahram Online, DNE, 10/9/2013]

Also of Interest:
Emirates announces establishing number of service and strategic projects in Egypt | AMAY (Arabic)  
Egypt indices slump ahead of Eid holiday | Ahram Online
Stronger FOREX reserves to save Egypt LE30 billion: Minister | Ahram Online
Customs officials affected most by January and June revolutions | DNE
Egypt struggles with flexibility and formality: World Bank | DNE

SOCIETY & MEDIA

On Maspero anniversary, activists call for justice
On the occasion of the two year anniversary of the Maspero Massacre, the Maspero Youth Union announced a memorial would take place at the Monastery of St. Simon the Tanner in Moqattam. In its statement, the organization condemned the lack of justice, with no one punished for the attack on Coptic demonstrators by the army that left over twenty-seven dead. They also condemned the safe exit given to military leaders ruling the country at the time, including Hussein Tantawi, Sami Anan, and then-head of military police Hamdy Badeen. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights has also called for all those involved in the massacre to be referred to trial. Meanwhile, Egyptian security forces have failed to protect the country’s Christian minority from a wave of attacks since a deadly crackdown on loyalists of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, Amnesty International said on Wednesday. In a detailed report, the London-based rights group said an unprecedented wave of sectarian attacks had targeted Christian churches, schools and charity buildings in the aftermath of the August 14 dispersal of two pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo and Giza that left hundreds dead.[Shorouk (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic), Ahram Gate (Arabic), ONA (Arabic), Ahram Online, DNE, 10/9/2013]

April 6 blames security, Islamists for Egypt violence
Egypt’s leading youth group the April 6 Youth Movement condemned on Tuesday both sides of the country’s deepening polarisation following the past days’ violence. April 6 – which helped initiate the call for the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak – condemned the “use of force” by police. However, the group also laid blame on Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood for protesting on a national holiday celebrating Egypt’s 1973 war with Israel. [Ahram Online, 10/8/2013]

Also of Interest:
University protests call for ‘return of legitimacy’ | DNE, Egypt Independent, Reuters, Mada Masr
Sisi ratifies handing out of food stuffs to Imbaba residents | Shorouk (Arabic)
Armed forces to build 3,000 low income houses in Hurghada | Tahrir (Arabic)
Mahalla textile workers strike demanding postponed bonuses | Cairo Post
Tamarod criticizes Brotherhood’s calls for Friday protest | Cairo Post
Egyptian opinion in the Constitution: Poll | DNE, Cairo Post

SECURITY

Minister of Interior presents draft law to the Cabinet to face chaos and violence  
Security sources said that ministry of interior has prepared a new draft law that enables police personnel to face the “chaos and violence” in Egypt’s streets. The new draft seeks to tighten punishment on carrying weapons during fights and protests. It also seeks to deal with chaos in Egyptian universities. The draft law will be presented to the Cabinet to be discussed in the coming days. [Shorouk, 10/92013]

Two fresh attacks in Sinai, as militant groups claim responsibility for Monday’s attacks
A bomb exploded in an empty military intelligence office in the Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday where the army is battling an Islamist insurgency, a security official said. He said the bomb went off in the town of Rafah bordering the Palestinian Gaza Strip. The office had been vacant since July, the official added. There were no casualties. A armed forces convoy was also attacked by unidentified gunmen on Wednesday, leaving no injuries. Meanwhile, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, a Sinai-based militant group, released an online statement Wednesday claiming responsibility for Monday’s attack that targeted security headquarters in southern Sinai, reported Al-Ahram, while a video showing two masked men attacking Egypt’s main satellite dish in Maadi has circulated the internet after being uploaded by a group that identifies itself as “Kataeb al-Furqan” (The Criterion Brigades). [AFP, Egypt Independent, Ahram Online, Cairo Post, Aswat Masriya, Shorouk (Arabic), 10/9/2013]
Also of Interest:
Police arrest fourteen involved in attacks on security installations | Cairo Post  

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

United States leans toward withholding most military aid from Egypt – source
The United States is leaning toward withholding most military aid to Egypt except to promote counter-terrorism, security in the Sinai Peninsula that borders Israel, and other such priorities, a US official said on Tuesday. After Morsi’s ouster, the Obama administration said it would suspend about $585 million in military assistance to Egypt pending a wider policy review. The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Obama administration was now leaning toward continuing to withhold most of that, with the exceptions described above. Initial reports had indicated that the White House planned to cut all military assistance to Egypt, which the
White House said on Tuesday were false. “We will announce the future of our assistance relationship with Egypt in the coming days, but as the president made clear at (the U.N. General Assembly), that assistance relationship will continue,” Caitlin Hayden, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council said. The White House also said it is “deeply concerned” by the recent violence in Egypt and is calling on the government there to protect all Egyptians. [Reuters, AP, Ahram Online, 10/9/2013]

EU’s Ashton concerned over continuing violence in Egypt
Senior representative of the European Union Catherine Ashton issued a statement on Tuesday expressing her concern over violence in Egypt over the past few days. “I was deeply concerned by last weekend’s violent clashes in Egypt and yesterday’s terror attacks in Sinai and Ismailia,” read the statement. She added “The clashes show there is clearly a great deal of polarisation and mistrust. This can only be overcome if all sides commit to a political process, defined and agreed by Egyptians themselves, that leads to deep and sustainable democracy. During my visit last week, I saw some potential for this to happen,” added Ashton, who stressed that the EU will continue to support Egypt. [Ahram Online, Shorouk (Arabic), ONA (Arabic), 10/9/2013]

Also of Interest:
China reiterates its support for the Egyptian government | Shorouk (Arabic)  
Bulgaria lifts it ban on travel to Egypt | Shorouk (Arabic)
Canadian ambassador meets Prosecutor to discuss Loubani, Greyson case | DNE
Israeli government to return stolen antiquities | Cairo Post
Turkey demands to meet Morsi | Shorouk (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic)  
African Union delegation discusses Egypt with Turkish FM | Ahram Online