Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak lies in the Sharm el-Sheikh International Hospital amid tight security, awaiting the attorney general’s decision to transfer him to a military hospital. Some residents questioned whether Mubarak was actually in the hospital, while others brought the ousted president flowers.

The head of Egypt's Illicit Gains Authority (IGA) on Monday ordered 15 days in prison for former Shura Council speaker Safwat al-Sherif pending investigations. Al-Sherif was deported to Tora Prison to join a number of other icons of corruption from former President Hosni Mubarak's regime. Al-Sherif was seen coming out of the Ministry of Justice building despite tight security, his face covered with a lawyer's robe to hide from photographers. He faces allegations of amassing wealth through illegal means and abusing power during the Mubarak's rule.

Egyptian reformist Mohamed ElBaradei has returned to Cairo. This time, he will not call for change or civil disobedience against former President Hosni Mubarak’s regime, but instead present himself to the Egyptian people as a presidential candidate. In an interview with Al-Masry Al-Youm, ElBaradei justified his frequent absences from Egypt. He said the only way to communicate his message -- that change is in the hands of the Egyptian people -- was by travel, since Egyptian television channels banned his appearance. He called for Mubarak to stand trial, saying that Egypt will remain ill as long as the former president's situation remains ambiguous. He went on to say that he never had a passport from a foreign country and that his wife is Egyptian.

Interior Minister Mansour al-Essawy said the era of constant surveillance over political opponents has ended. He said that the former state security apparatus surveillance tapes are now in the hands of the armed forces. Al-Essawy also announced that the Interior Ministry released 95 percent of political prisoners.

A fire breaks out at the communications department on the top floor of the Interior Ministry building Tuesday, emitting a cloud of smoke that billowed over downtown Cairo. Firefighters and policemen raced to extinguish the fire while the armed forces cleared the area surrounding the building.

Revolution Youth Coalition rebuffs constitutional amendments, given current changes coincide with ones initially proposed by ousted president Hosni Mubarak. The coalition dubs changes as a "patchwork" of 1971 constitution which, according to coalition, is now null. The coalition demands an interim charter applicable over current power transition period and a presidential council - instead of a supposedly hastily-elected president based on a controversial, current constitution - which would run Egypt temporarily.

Egypt’s new Prime Minister Essam Sharaf headed to Tahrir Square on Friday to speak to protesters who were celebrating the removal of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq’s transition government and calling for the implementation of the rest of the demands of the revolution. Sharaf, who was cheered by the crowd and carried by protesters to the podium, said he seeks legitimacy from the protesters and he promised to meet the protesters demands.

Preparing for an end of his stint as Arab League Secretary General and monitored for his decision to run - or not to run - for upcoming presidency, Amr Moussa, who has been crystal clear about his plans, has been interviewed by Al-Masry Al-Youm. Not only has Mr. Moussa said he was going to run for president but he went on to uncover plans for his presidential program, advised by a group of experts, to be announced on time. Mr. Moussa also discussed a host of issues including economy, scientific research and, not least, politics at large.

Muslim and Christian leaders in Assiut issued a joint statement to curb the circulation of sectarian rumors in the Upper Egyptian governorate. The statement, signed by five Coptic church leaders and seven Gamaa Islamiya leaders, condemned the killing of Dawoud Botros, pastor of the Prince Tadros church in Shatb village. They called for the killers to be brought to justice.

Following years of silence, former Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri discloses the reasons behind his resignation in 1999. Al-Ganzouri discusses his relationship with other ministers during his tenure as prime minister. According to al-Ganzouri, injustice is was behind the 25 January revolution.

Just five minutes away from Tahrir Square, in the most tradtional of settings in Cairo, the coffee shop talk centers on topics unthinkable weeks ago. CNN's Arwa Damon reports.

Micro Mosaic Art - by the Mosaic Artist Saad Romany Mikhaiel- Media Coverage by VOA

Doctors, staff, and eyewitnesses at the Good Shepherd Hospital in Samalout say security forces shot tear gas inside the hospital when clashes erupted between Christians and police following a shooting of several Copts this week.

Michael Meunier, Founder and Chairman of the U.S. Copts Association, discussed the recent attack on a church in Egypt which occurred on New Year's Eve resulting in the death of 21 people. The attack targeted Coptic Christians at prayer, causing unrest in the country and bringing tensions between Egyptian Christians and Muslims back to forefront of national and international focus. Ahead of today’s Orthodox Christmas celebrations, security in and around Egypt’s Coptic neighborhoods was increased. "In Egypt in

(CNN) -- Government officials in Alexandria, Egypt, increased security around places of worship following an explosion that killed at least 21 people at a church in the region, the governor told state media Saturday.

Christian communities have existed in the Arab world for centuries and make up the religious minority in many countries, such as Jordan, the West Bank, Egypt and Iraq. Already fragile, these groups are increasingly subject to persecution. For many, life is becoming too hard in their native lands and the only option is to leave.

One protester has been killed and dozens injured in clashes between Egyptian police and Coptic Christians over the construction of a new church. How might these growing sectarian tensions impact the upcoming elections?

The situation for Christians in Iraq right now is at a crisis level. Armed Islamic terrorists are now patrolling the streets, stopping each person and asking to see their ID cards. Then they check to see what religion is recorded on the card.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has banned people exposing their shoulders and thighs at an event at a public swimming pool in Dandenong, in Melbourne's south-east.

Mona Eltahawy is an award-winning columnist and an international public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues. She is based in New York.

Vice President Joe Biden landed Saturday in Baghdad to coax Iraqi leaders into ending their government impasse as vying political factions remain deadlocked over which political bloc should pick its new leaders, including prime minister.