Egypt's second biggest Islamist faction may have rallied behind a new army-backed constitution passed in a referendum last week, but its support for a presidential bid by military chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appears less certain.

The Muslim Brotherhood’s National Alliance to Support Legitimacy called on Egyptians in a statement to demonstrate Sunday in the same major areas of Cairo and other governorates, according to the Brotherhood’s official website, Ikhwanonline.

The Sinai-based militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis claimed responsibility Sunday in a statement for the military helicopter that was shot to the ground in North Sinai on Saturday with a surface-to-air missile.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate denied that Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church is discussing the personal status law with the Ministry of Justice, the spokesperson of the patriarchate Bishop Nicola said Sunday.

Almost seven months since its free fall from power, the Muslim Brotherhood appears to be seeking rapprochement with some of the people who opposed the rule of the group.

ABU DHABI: Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri called on militant rebel factions in Syria to stop fighting each other and set up a judicial committee to sort out their differences, according to an audio recording released on Islamist websites.

The moderate front for countering religious violence and excessiveness, which includes several Al-Jihad dissidents, has declared participation in events on 25 January with a new initiative to support nomination of Defense Ministry Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for presidency and return of Muslim Brotherhood back to politics after abandoning violence.

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Egypt's second biggest Islamist faction may have rallied behind a new army-backed constitution passed in a referendum last week, but its support for a presidential bid by military chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appears less certain.

A prominent Egyptian academic who has been charged with espionage in a case whose co-defendants include ousted president Mohamed Morsi, said on Wednesday that the allegations against him were "baseless and politically-motivated."

Six Brotherhood members were arrested in Warraq, Giza, after prosecutors ordered their arrest on charges of organizing demonstrations in violation of the law which not only requires prior-authorization but bans all Brotherhood-related activities.

The Ministry of Justice is waiting for a response from Qatari authorities regarding the request to extradite leading Gamaa Islamiyya member Assem Abdel Maged to stand trial for charges in Egypt, Deputy Minister of Justice for International Cooperation Adel Fahmy told Youm7 Wednesday.

The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy urged citizens to revolt against the military-backed government in a statement published on their official Facebook page on Wednesday.

Former president Mohamed Morsi will attend his trial in a soundproof booth on Jan. 28, security sources told Youm7 Tuesday.

The moderate front for countering religious violence and excessiveness, which includes several Al-Jihad dissidents, has declared participation in events on 25 January with a new initiative to support nomination of Defense Ministry Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for presidency and return of Muslim Brotherhood back to politics after abandoning violence.

An UAE court Abu Dhabi ruled against 30 Egyptian and Emirati defendants, in person and in absentia, in the case of the Muslim Brotherhood cell, with prison terms ranging between three months and five years, while one person was acquitted from two charges, according to Emirati newspaper Emirates Today on Tuesday.

The Muslim Brotherhood will run the upcoming parliamentary elections, Nour Party Spokesperson Abdel Ghaffar Taha told CBC channel in an interview Monday.

Judge Mohamed Sherine Fahmy, head of the Cairo Criminal Court , on Monday filed a lawsuit against Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, founder of the Al-Raya Party, accusing him of insulting the court.

A Cairo appeal court ordered on Tuesday deposed president Mohamed Morsi to stand trial on 16 February over allegations he collaborated with Hamas, Hezbollah and other organisations to commit terrorist acts in Egypt.

Prominent Egyptian Salafist Sheikh Yasser El-Borhamy has levelled accusations at Muslim Brotherhood leaders for last August's violent dispersals of the group's two sit-ins in Cairo, saying that they are responsible for the hundreds of their members who were killed by security forces whom "they abandoned".

CAIRO, Jan 20 (Aswat Masriya) Prominent Salafi preacher and politician Hazem Salah Abu Ismail was sentenced to one year in prison, with labor, on Monday, for insulting the Egyptian judiciary.

Pro-Muslim Brotherhood students in Asyut attempted to break into the administration building of Asyut University Monday, after protesting in front of the Faculty of Science, but were stopped by security.