Clashes erupted throughout the capital on Sunday afternoon between police and protesters amid heightened security and calls for rival demonstrations on October 6, leaving over fifty dead. 

GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION

Egypt’s army chief says will continue protecting people’s mandate
Egypt’s army chief and defense minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi vowed on Sunday to continue fulfilling “the people’s mandate to confront terrorism.” In a speech marking the fortieth anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war at Cairo’s Air Defense Stadium in the late hours of Sunday, he said, “The military is as strong as the pyramids, because of the people. The people have always supported the army over the years. The army is willing to sacrifice the lives of its members for the good of the people.” Meanwhile, interim President Adly Mansour announced the launch of two “national projects” in a televised speech. He announced the launch of “multiple nuclear plants for peaceful purposes, beginning with al-Dabaa,” as well as the launch of the National Project for the Development of the Suez Canal Zone. In a speech prior to the anniversary, Mansour called on all Egyptians to take to the streets on Sunday to gather in squares across the nation in celebration of the anniversary of the 6 October war against Israel, and to support the Egyptian army. [Ahram Online, DNE, SIS, Aswat Masriya, 10/7/2013]

Pro-Morsi coalition renews calls for Tahrir protests; FJP demands international probe into Sunday violence
Egypt’s National Coalition to Support Legitimacy has renewed its calls for marches to Tahrir Square on Friday to protest “massacres against Egyptians,” following deadly clashes on Sunday between security forces and protesters. They also called for student protests at schools and universities on Tuesday. The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) blamed Egyptian authorities for murdering peaceful protesters during 6 October celebrations on Sunday, calling for an international investigation into the deaths and injuries of scores of demonstrators. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, 10/7/2013]

Also of Interest:
Board of trustees appointed for Egypt support fund | DNE
Kafr al-Sheikh Governor signs petition urging Sisi to run for president | Ahram Online
Calls for retribution on second anniversary of ‘Maspero massacre’ | DNE

COURTS & CONSTITUTION

Military court gives Sinai reporter six month suspended sentence
An Egyptian military court in Ismailia handed Sinai-based reporter Ahmed Abu Deraa a suspended sentence of six months in prison and an EGP 200 fine, on charges of spreading false information about the army in North Sinai. Negad al-Boraie, a human rights lawyer and director of United Group, which was handling the case, said the verdict was politicized.  “The verdict took political balances into consideration rather than legal ones,” ElBorai said. “The military court considered the international dimensions of the case; Abu Deraa is an internationally acknowledged journalist.” He was released on Saturday afternoon. [Ahram Online, DNE, Egypt Independent, 10/5/2013]

Canadians freed in Egypt still face travel ban
Two Canadians freed at the weekend after being held in Egypt for more than six weeks without charge are still barred from flying home, their lawyer said on Monday. “When the men went to the airport they found there was a travel ban with their names on it and so they couldn’t travel and came back to Cairo,” Marwa Farouk, the lawyer representing John Greyson and Tarek Loubani, told Reuters. The pair was released early Sunday morning. North Cairo Prosecution issued a statement saying that investigations found they had been working as journalists and had not participated in violence. Greyson and Loubani were arrested on August 16 amid clashes between security forces and supporters of former president Mohamed Morsi while passing through Egypt on their way to the Gaza Strip.  [Reuters, Egypt Independent, Mada Masr, AFP, Ahram Online, 10/7/2013]

Also of Interest:
Egyptian prosecution accuses ‘terrorist cell’ of Kerdasa police raid | Ahram Online
Muslim Brotherhood youth will launch campaign to reject constitution: leader | Egypt Independent

ECONOMY

Meetings to activate nuclear project
Minister of Electricity and Energy Ahmed Imam said that the Ministry of Electricity and the related authorities will hold on Monday and Wednesday meetings regarding implementing the first nuclear station in Egypt to produce electricity. Imam affirmed that the first meeting will be held under the auspices of the Armed Forces to review documents of the agreements relevant to handing over the site of al-Dabaa’ to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy. The residents of the area of al-Dabaa’, the Governor of Matrouh, as well as top officials of the nuclear stations authority will attend the meeting. [SIS, 10/7/2013]

Also of Interest:
Ministry of Electricity to receive bids for construction of first solar power electrical plant | DNE
Banque du Caire sees increase in corporate loans | DNE
Agriculture Minister: One million olive trees to be cultivated in Sinai | SIS

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Violence erupts across Egypt on October 6 anniversary
Clashes erupted throughout the capital on Sunday afternoon between police and protesters amid heightened security and calls for rival demonstrations on October 6. The official death toll from the clashes reached fifty-three, the health ministry announced on Monday. The violence, which lasted until close to midnight, also left 271 injured. Most of the victims were killed in Cairo, Giza, Minya and Beni Suef. On Monday, calm returned to the streets after one of the bloodiest days since the military toppled Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July. Clashes also broke out between pro-army and pro-Morsi protesters in Suez, Behooth, and in Ramses, where police fired teargas to disperse protesters, while the Islamist group’s members reportedly responded by hurling stones and fireworks. Gunfire shots were reportedly exchanged on Sunday in Cairo’s downtown during a protest by supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Aswat Masriya eyewitness said.  Police also fired teargas on a pro-Morsi march in Garden City heading to Tahrir. Military troops were also deployed on the October 6 Bridge to prevent Muslim Brotherhood members from reaching Tahrir Square. A group that calls itself “students against the coup” staged a demonstration by the Raba’a al-Adaweya Mosque in Nasr City on Saturday, said the Freedom and Justice’s Facebook page. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, Aswat Masriya, Mada Masr, Reuters, DNE, 10/7/2013]

Also of Interest:
Egypt’s Coptic Pope visits Al-Azhar for first time | Ahram Online
Ex-presidential hopeful Bothaina Kamel attacked by ‘Morsi supporters’ | Ahram Online
Fighter jets fly over Cairo as rival marches take to the streets | Mada Masr

SECURITY

Several attacks in Egypt following day of clashes
Several attacks hit Egypt Monday morning in Cairo, Ismailia and South Sinai. Six Egyptian army personnel were killed Monday morning in an attack by gunmen on an army patrol near the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, security officials said. Shortly afterwards in the southern Sinai town of al-Tor, two were killed and forty-eight injured in a massive car bomb explosion targeting security headquarters. Meanwhile in southern Cairo’s upscale district of Maadi, armed assailants attacked with RPGs an uplink telecom facility used to air channels on Egypt’s Nilesat satellite, reported pan-Arab news channel Sky News Arabia. On Monday, unknown gunmen also fired at an army checkpoint in Remaya Square in Giza, according to the area’s investigations department chief, Major General Mohamed al-Sharqawy. Security troops followed the gunmen and exchanged fire with them on Monday but failed to arrest them, Sharqawy told Al-Masry Al-Youm. On Sunday, a bomb was also defused near Cairo’s Tahrir Square as the capital prepared for rival protests on the anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Rosa el-Youssef, a state-owned political magazine, said the remote-controlled explosive device was found on a wall between a garage and a petrol station outside its offices on al-Qasr al-Aini Street. An Egyptian policeman was killed when assailants launched an attack on a police station in Arish. [Mada Masr, Reuters, Ahram Online, DNE, Aswat Masriya, AFP, 10/7/2013]

Constitution Party’s Khaled Daoud stabbed by ‘pro-Morsi protesters’
The spokesman for the liberal Constitution Party, Khaled Daoud, was stabbed in central Cairo on Friday afternoon. According to Al-Ahram, the former spokesman of the National Salvation Front (NSF) was stabbed in the chest and hand in the Mounira district.  Shortly after the assault, Daoud told Al-Ahram he was attacked by protesters while driving his car down Qasr al-Aini Street. The Constitution Party strongly condemned the attack on its spokesman, describing it as “criminal.” It called on the authorities to provide political parties and public figures with the necessary protection. The party also called on all its members to commit to peacefulness and civility during the celebrations of the October War. The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) condemned the attack on Friday, stressing that it is against any act of violence even if it is against those who supported the coup d’etat.” Meanwhile, interior ministry said that a man arrested in connection with the attack was carrying ‘pro-Muslim Brotherhood’ banners. Cairo prosecutor’s office ordered his detention for fifteen days pending investigation of his alleged involvement in the attack. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent,| DNE, Aswat Masriya, 10/6/2013]

423 arrested in Cairo clashes on Armed Forces day: Interior Ministry
Egypt’s Interior Ministry said on Sunday it arrested 423 people in Cairo and Giza during clashes between supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi, their opponents, and police. In a statement published on its official Facebook page, the Ministry said security forces arrested 180 people in Dokki and Manial areas in Giza and another 243 people in Ramses, downtown Cairo. Meanwhile, spokesman for the Freedom and Justice Party in Cairo, Ahmed Sobei, was arrested on Friday afternoon at his residence in Helwan. Sobei, who was also working with the Hamas-affiliated al-Aqsa satellite channel, was detained on charges of inciting violence. Security forces in Qalyubiya arrested twenty-five people allegedly affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, accusing them of possession of fifty-one explosive devices. Nasr City’s first prosecution started questioning twenty-one supporters of Morsi on Sunday who were arrested while attempting to stage a sit-in at Raba’a al-Adaweya Square. The head of Alexandria’s criminal investigation unit said that security forces arrested a number of suspects whom he said belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood. Finally, on Friday, Bani Mazar Prosecution released four students and an employee who had gathered in front of the Bani Mazar Education Department in Minya, raising the Raba’a al-Adaweya slogan. [Ahram Online, DNE, Egypt Independent, Aswat Masriya, 6/10/2013]

Also of Interest:
Border guards confiscate arms in Sinai | Aswat Masriya
Four assailants killed in Ismailiya attack, six arrested | Aswat Masriya

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

United States more ‘understanding’ of Morsi ouster: Egypt interim president
In his first interview to the foreign press, Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour affirmed to the pan-Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat on Sunday American and European Union support of the country’s political roadmap. President Adly Mansour asserted that no alterations would be made to the political plan drawn following the overthrow of Morsi: first a constitution, immediately followed by parliamentary elections to conclude two months later, and a presidential vote to begin two or three months after that. Asked about the Muslim Brotherhood’s inclusion in the political process, Mansour said the group has been instigating the international community’s hostility towards Egypt since Morsi’s downfall. [Ahram Online, 10/6/2013]

Also of Interest:
UN, US concerned over Friday violence DNE, Ahram Online
Arab presidents congratulate Egypt | DNE
Mansour visits Saudi Arabia Monday, Jordan Tuesday | SIS
Irrigation Minister describes statements by Ethiopian PM on Renaissance Dam as positive step | SIS