Ambassador Badr Abdulaaty, spokesman of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, said today that more than 103.000 Egyptians abroad have participated in the referendum, while 87.000 had participated in the previous one.

Mohamed Ramadan, sniper of the Muslim Brotherhood who was arrested above a building near Rabaa Adawia Square, said he had received orders to kill policemen and security forces during the dispersal of Rabaa Adawia sit-in.

Mahmoud Badr, founder of Rebel Campaign, announced he supports Gen. Abdul Fatah al-Sisi for the presidency.

An Egyptian judiciary official said Prosecutors in Egypt decided to renew detention of 6 Copts of Nazlet Ebid's village's sectarian incidents for more 15 days on charges of carrying unlicensed weapons.

Hafez Abu Saada , member of the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights, said that Al Jazeera television, has completely lost its morals and professionalism concerning covering the Egyptian matters and supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.

Three prominent Egyptian parties have decided to ally in the upcoming elections. Al Wafd, Free Egyptians, and The Egyptian democratic parties have decided to ally in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, invited the people to vote "yes" in the upcoming referendum on Egypt's constitution scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A Coptic man named Ibram Awny was killed after clashes between Muslims and Christians in Dayrout. The clashes started when three young Muslims harassed a Christian girl. Awni died after receiving a gunshot during the clashes.

HG Abba Makarios, bishop of Minya, confirmed the appearance of Saint Mary in Minya. He explained that he watched the illuminating spectra for more than five hours continuously in they sky of Minya govenorate.

Egyptians in Austria have participated actively in the referendum on new constitution ignoring many calls by the Muslim Brotherhood to boycott it.

Security forces have raised security alert to maximum after a plan to attack prisons and free leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood including the ousted president Mohamed Morsy was revealed.

Ayoub Moussa Ayad, 12 years old jihadist, was arrested yesterday in Sheikh Zowaid city after he had tried to detonate a roadside bomb using a wireless device.

Abba Makarious, bishop of Minya, said that instead of building a memorial manger in the Coptic Churches in Minya, the demolished Churches became a humble one for Jesus Christ.

After rumors spread about a plan to assassinate ousted president Mohamed Morsy, Amr Abdul Hady, spokesman for the conscience front that supports the Muslim Brotherhood, said that in case Morsy is assassinated, Ahmed Fahmy, head of the dissolved Shura Council should take his office until another president is elected.

Dr. Fadil Soleiman, MB leader, said that there Is a Quranic verses against the military coup. He claimed that verse 189 of Al-Baqarah is against the military coup as it says: They ask you (O Muhammad ) about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage. It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc.) that you enter the houses from the back but Al-Birr (is the quality of the one) who fears Allah. So enter houses through their proper doors, and fear Allah that you may be successful!

Security sources said that 17 supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsy were arrested today for inciting violence in front of the court where Morsy was going to be stand trial.

On Tuesday 7 January, Coptic Orthodox Christians – who comprise 90 percent of Egypt's Christians – will break their 43-day fast and celebrate Christmas. The festival comes almost two weeks after most Western denominations, including Catholics and Protestants, held their celebrations on 25 December.

Fish is served. The family gathers at their older sister's house and bares one of its last seyami meals before they break their fast on Christmas Eve.

As Egyptians celebrate Coptic Christmas, Ahram Online showcases rare photos of landmarks on the Holy Family's flight to Egypt

CAIRO, Jan 5 (KUNA) -- Egypt's interim President Adly Mansour on Sunday visited Cairo's main Coptic Orthodox Cathedral to greet church leaders on Christmas, the first such visit to the church by an Egyptian leader.

Egypt interim president Adly Mansour has visited Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, to congratulate him on Christmas.