The last round of Egypt’s presidential elections kicked off Saturday amid speculations that the results may deal the last blow to the January 25 revolution and tighten the grip of the military junta on the helm of state.

A Freedom and Justice Party representative said party workers observed campaign violations throughout the morning of the first day of the runoff election between Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq.

Mansoura Criminal Court on Thursday acquitted four Daqahlia police officials accused of killing and injuring demonstrators during the 25 January 2011 uprising.

At a joint press conference on Thursday, three prominent public figures announced their withdrawal from Egypt's Constituent Assembly, tasked with drafting a new constitution. The three figures are: Abdel Galil Mostafa, general coordinator for the National Association for Change reform movement; constitutional law expert Gabr Nassar; and Christian thinker Samir Marcus.

Former presidential candidate Khaled Ali, a number of human rights organizations and others have filed lawsuits to overturn the Justice Ministry decree granting the military broad authority to arrest civilians.

The US Embassy on Tuesday urged American citizens in Egypt to "remain alert…review their personal security plans" and avoid protest spaces like Tahrir Square, due to Thursday's High Constitutional Court verdict and the upcoming presidential election run-offs on 16 – 17 June. The security message published on its official website provided contact information and numbers to help US nationals if the situation in Egypt were to turn "violent".

Twelve imams have been summoned for questioning on allegations they carried out campaign activities in Qalyubiya mosques, which prompted fighting among worshipers.

The Ain Shams Appeals Court cleared on Tuesday activist Asmaa Mahfouz of allegations she attacked a civil servant.

Major Mamdouh Shahin, a member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, has said he intends to withdraw from the constituent assembly due to the absence of a national consensus on its composition, an official source told Ahram Online Wednesday.

The April 6 Youth Movement (Democratic Front) has called for a boycott of Egypt's presidential election runoff on 16-17 June.

The Supreme Constitutional Court will hold an open session to consider challenges to two laws in cases that have significant implications for the country's future.

Egypt’s justice ministry on Wednesday issued a decree authorising military-intelligence officers and military-police officers to arrest civilians for non-military crimes, a right previously reserved for police officers alone.

First-round presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi and reform campaigner and founder of the newly-established Constitution Party Mohamed ElBaradei, met Monday evening to discuss the potential for creating a broad umbrella group to unite pro-revolution political forces.

The Cairo Court of Appeals has set 9 July as the start date for the trial of Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, sons of the ousted president, and seven others on financial corruption charges.

Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei on Tuesday attacked the planned formation of the committee tasked with writing the country's new constitution, describing it as an attempt to undermine the 25 January revolution.

The Supreme Constitutional Court’s general assembly agreed on Tuesday not to send representatives to the committee tasked with writing Egypt’s new constitution.

Former Industry and Trade Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid, who fled the country during the 25 January uprising early last year, said Monday he is confident he will be acquitted of corruption charges and plans to return to Egypt soon.

Egypt will not necessarily be stable after the election of a new president, former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi said Sunday in an interview with CBC satellite channel.

Egypt's balance of payments slid deeper into the red in the first nine months of 2011-2012 with a deficit of $11.2 billion compared to a shortfall of $5.5 billion a year earlier, as political turmoil hit investment and tourism, figures showed.

Parties have agreed to allow the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafi-oriented Nour Party to hold 50 percent of the constitution-writing committee’s seats, Wafd Party chief Al-Sayed al-Badawy has said.

Ousted president Hosni Mubarak requested the transfer of his son Alaa to accompany him in Tora prison hospital after reportedly suffering a deterioration in his health and breathing difficulties following the announcement of his verdict on 2 June.