The Culture Ministry and Egyptian Writers Union on Sunday condemned two acts of vandalism on two Egyptian statues, one of Arab literary icon Taha Hussein and another of prolific singer Om Kalthoum.

Egypt's armed forces, for decades at the centre of power, will avoid involvement in politics but could have a role if things became "complicated", the chief of staff said on Sunday.

Liberal and Islamist political leaders met privately on Saturday to try to ease tensions that have sparked protests in which some 60 Egyptians have died since late January, politicians said.

Hundreds of protesters laid siege to the Port Authority headquarters in the Egyptian city of Port Said, forcing workers to evacuate amid concern there will be a repeat of violence over the past month that left dozens dead.

An Egyptian security official said Saturday that the interior ministry has agreed to purchase 100,000 new 9mm pistols after low-ranking policemen went on strike demanding greater firepower to defend themselves against increased lawlessness.

Opposition sources have told Ahram Online that preparations are underway for a meeting that should take place this week — within two days according to two sources — to bring together the leadership of Strong Egypt Party, the National Salvation Front (NSF) and the Salafist El-Nour Party.

The Cairo Administrative Court ordered the government Saturday to allow the anti-Muslim Brotherhood channel Al-Faraeen to broadcast, while shutting down Al-Tet channel, which broadcasts only bellydancing.

The Muslim Brotherhood's political party aims to win an outright majority in Egypt's forthcoming parliamentary elections without making alliances with other more hardline Islamist groups, its leader said on Thursday

Only 28 Saudi-held Egyptian nationals, without sentence or conviction, are currently detained for investigations on charges concerning violations, said the Saudi Ambassador in an embassy statement on Thursday.

In Cairo, groups of workers gathered at a press conference held on Thursday by the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) to give their testimony about the recent wave of strike action at a number of workplaces across Egypt.

Egyptian human rights activists and political movements are calling on people to take part in a symbolic public funeral on Friday in Tahrir Square

Egyptian authorities appealed on Thursday against a court order banning the video file-sharing site YouTube for a month over an amateur video that denigrates the Prophet Mohammad, saying the ruling was unenforceable

The EGPC's Hadara, for his part, says that while he is responsible for the initiative's technical aspects, the issue of ending diesel subsidies was a "political question" that fell on the petroleum ministry.

Demonstrations took place outside Egyptian embassies and consulates in several countries on Tuesday to denounce the occurrence of violence against women and particularly against female protesters in Egypt.

Dostour Chief Mohamed ElBaradei admitted that Egypt's political gridlock has made it nearly impossible for anyone, regardless of their political affiliation, to lead Egypt into recovery.

An Egyptian court sentenced an Israeli man to two years in prison for crossing illegally into the Sinai Peninsula, court sources told Reuters Tuesday.

The Popular Current Party joined other activists Tuesday to call for a protest outside the Bulaq Abul Ela Public Prosecution office next Sunday. The demonstration is a show of support for eight members of the media who have been summoned for questioning over their involvement in a Maspero protest for better wages last year.

Hundreds of low-ranking police personnel have staged protests at security departments in ten governorates across Egypt. The General Coalition of Police Personnel and Conscripts said the protests on Tuesday were designed to achieve a number of demands, including reforms at the interior ministry, wage increases, a 'danger pay' allowance, the arming of low-ranking personnel, and a law to develop the police apparatus.

The Cairo-based Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) has called for an immediate investigation into the death of Mohamed El-Gendy, allegedly tortured to death by police following a protest in January. El-Gendy, 28, disappeared late last month, only to reappear in hospital over a week later having sustained injuries to which he eventually succumbed.

Egypt's bourse was back in the green on Tuesday, as main index EGX30 rose by 1.1 per cent, closing at 5,756 points. The broader-based EGX70 registered a higher increase of 1.9 per cent. The total turnover for securities was around LE 510 million, the highest this week, as "street protests had paralysed investors over the past couple of days" said Issa Fathi, vice president of the securities division of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce.

Ain Sokhna port remains shut on Tuesday, with all operations suspended, as port workers continued their sit-in for a thirteenth day, following failed negotiations with army leaders. Around 1,200 workers at Platinum Maritime Services – a subcontractor at the seaport – launched a sit-in two weeks ago, demanding permanent contracts with the private Dubai-based company that manages the port, DP World.