Egypt's best-known diplomat said Tuesday that a constitution drafted by a 50-member panel he chaired offered unprecedented guarantees for democracy, individual freedoms and gender equality.

CAIRO: Minister of Housing Ibrahim Mahlab said that article 78 of the new constitution states that the country provides citizens with the right to safe and sanitary housing, which guarantees social justice.

Security forces fired tear gas canisters on Sunday evening at dozens of Al-Azhar University students supporting the Muslim Brotherhood after they blocked Mostafa al-Nahas Street in Nasr City to denounce the referral of 18 of their colleagues to disciplinary committees for participating in acts of violence.

CAIRO: The referendum on the new constitution draft will take place during the second week of January 2014, spokesperson of the 50-member committee Mohamed Salmawy said on Sunday.

Underemployment, or the phenomenon of working less than 40 hours a week due to a lack of employment opportunities, has more than tripled in Egypt in the six years leading to 2012, revealed a study of Egypt's labour market presented at an Economic Research Forum conference Saturday.

Dozens of demonstrators marched on Sunday in front of the Cabinet building to demand retribution and the re-trial of those responsible for the killings before revolutionary courts.

A Cairo misdemeanor court said on Sunday evening that it would announce verdict against activists Ahmed Douma, Mohamed Adel and Ahmed Maher on 22 December. The court also said the three defendants are to remain in jail until then.

CAIRO: Secretary General of Sufi Forces Coalition Abdallah Nasser said the coalition, along with 66 other Sufi groups, are inaugurating a campaign to encourage people to vote “yes” for the constitution. He said Egyptians must have objective for the roadmap.

CAIRO: The National Salvation Front’s parties have agreed on running united for parliamentary elections, said Front leader and head of the Popular Alliance Party Abdel Ghafar Shoukr.

Administrative security of Cairo University banned on Saturday Faculty of Engineering students from taking part in a sit-in called for by others demanding retaliation and holding killers of their colleague Mohamed Reda accountable.

Three prominent activists will appear in court on Sunday for allegedly taking part in a violent and unauthorised protest under a new assembly law that has sparked public outcry.

CAIRO: Interim President Adly Mansour has begun examining the draft constitution since receiving it last Tuesday, Mansour’s Constitutional Advisor Ali Awad Saleh said.

Cairo Criminal Court cleared on Saturday 155 suspects accused of committing violence during commemoration of the 40th anniversary of 6 October war.

Engineering students from Cairo University have announced the start of an open strike from this Saturday until those responsible for the death of fellow student Mohamed Reda are brought to justice.

UNESCO has welcomed Egypt’s suggestion to build a museum science center in Cairo under its auspices.

CAIRO: Prominent writer Mohamed Hassanein Heikal said Thursday that he believes Minister of Defense General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi will not run in the upcoming presidential elections.

Tamarod (Rebel) has launched a campaign calling for Egyptians to vote in the upcoming constitutional referendum.

CAIRO: Calls to hold a social dialogue about Egypt’s draft constitution will not achieve any practical benefits, according to the head of Alexandria’s Court of Appeal, Sameh Abdul Allah, because of calls for boycotting the referendum or for voting “yes.”

Transparency International’s 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index has revealed that regimes in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia have not improved their standing, indicating these countries have not taken adequate measures to combat corruption, achieve independence and integrity of judiciary or legislate laws such as rights to obtain information.

CAIRO: Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawy said Tuesday that Egypt has completed an important stage in its history, as the 50-member committee has completed a new draft of the constitution, and implementation of the roadmap as it was planned after the June 30 uprising has begun.

The century-old home of Egypt's mummies and King Tutankhamun's treasures is trying to make the best out of the worst times of political turmoil. But the Egyptian Museum is taking a hammering on multiple levels, from riots on its doorstep to funding so meager it can't keep up paper clip supplies for its staff.