CAIRO — Taking advantage of Egypt’s political upheaval, thieves have gone on a treasure hunt with a spree of illegal digging, preying on the country’s ancient pharaonic heritage.

The Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC), tasked with managing the elections process, has reportedly decided not to ban Mubarak's last prime minister Ahmed Shafiq from the presidential race, commission sources have revealed.

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Wednesday containing detailed voting guidelines for Egyptians living abroad, who will be able to cast ballots in Egypt’s first post-revolution presidential poll from 11 to 17 May.

Mohamed ElBaradei has called on revolutionary forces to work with all social classes to achieve the goals of the revolution, adding that peaceful protest gives the revolution strength and purity.

Women protesters and rights groups have accused Egyptian troops and prison authorities of sexual assault during the latest crackdown on demonstrations, reviving allegations they are using abuse to intimidate female detainees and protesters.

Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri has made a limited cabinet reshuffle, with three ministers leaving the cabinet, the state-owned wire service MENA reported.

According to the Muslim Brotherhood's English-language website, Mohamed Abdel-Qudous, leading member of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, declared that the syndicate was "leaning towards" calling on members to refrain from reporting news related to Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) pending the release of all journalists detained in last weekend's Abbassiya clashes.

The curfew imposed in the Abbasseya neighborhood of Cairo and the areas surrounding the Defense Ministry has extended for the sixth day, state TV quoted a military source as saying on Wednesday.

Initial reactions varied towards Tuesday's controversial decision by the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC) to indefinitely suspend all of its activities, with some political forces blaming the legal body, while others took a swipe at the People's Assembly (the lower house of Egypt's parliament).

Major General Adel al-Morsy, head of the military judiciary, on Tuesday refused to disclose the number of people detained in the clashes that erupted last Friday between demonstrators and army troops in front of the Defense Ministry in Abbasseya.

Initial reactions varied towards Tuesday's controversial decision by the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC) to indefinitely suspend all of its activities, with some political forces blaming the legal body, while others took a swipe at the People's Assembly (the lower house of Egypt's parliament).

Parliament’s Proposals and Complaints Committee on Tuesday approved a draft law submitted by MP Yasser al-Qady proposing a harsher punishment for printing the Quran without a license.

In press statements on Tuesday, Farouk Sultan, chairman of the Presidential Elections Commission, said the election will be held on time.

Two thousand workers at Beshay Steel factories blocked the Cairo-Alexandria desert highway early Tuesday demanding better pay, an Ahram Online journalist at the scene reported.

The Presidential Elections Commission said it would stop its work in preparation for the election due later this month after what it said was an insult to the committee by members of Parliament during its session on Monday.

Parliament has introduced amendments to the Presidential Elections Law on Monday that are meant to ensure that no forgery takes place.

The judges investigating the clashes that took place last December in front of the cabinet building decided on Monday to refer 293 people to trial.

Intensive efforts have been exerted in recent days to put an end to the three-month-long showdown between the government of prime minister Kamal El-Ganzouri and the Islamist-dominated parliament.

Egyptian presidential candidates Hamdeen Sabbahi, Abul-Ezz El-Hariri and Hisham Bastawisi plan to hold a meeting on Monday in hopes of reaching agreement on a single presidential contender to represent Egypt's leftist political forces, sources close to the three men's electoral campaigns told Ahram Online. Egypt's first post-Mubarak presidential poll will be held on 23 and 24 May.

Giza Criminal Court has adjourned the profiteering case of businessman Ahmed Ezz, former Industry Minister Ibrahim Mohamedein and five representatives of Dekheila Steel Company to 9 May.

Members of a committee formed by the government’s National Human Rights Council decided on Monday to meet with individuals who have been detained following the violence that took place over the last week outside the Defense Ministry in Abbasseya, Cairo.