Arrests in Cairo of several people identified as being from religious minorities and the attempted passage of a blasphemy law in the constitution have prompted a rise in concern from the United States

As the constituent assembly writes Egypt's new constitution, a leader from the Salafi (ultraconservative) Nour Party insists that there is no need to include an article to grant non-Muslims the right to resort to their own religious rituals in their personal affairs.

Egyptian business tycoon Naguib Sawiris has denied any financial dealings with Mohamed Rashid, adviser to the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

Moaz Mohamed, who suffered serious burns from a Molotov cocktail thrown during clashes between Muslims and Copts in Dahshur, Giza, passed away on Tuesday at the Helmia military hospital in Cairo.

Following its award-winning spree at the Third Doha Tribeca Film Festival, the 2012 Berlinale and the 15th Ismailia International Film Festival, Namir Abdel Messeeh took his debut feature documentary “The Virgin, the Copts and Me” on a round of public screenings in Egypt in July.

Mohamed El-Beltagi, a leading Muslim Brotherhood figure and member of the Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution, stated on Sunday that assembly members would discuss proposed constitutional articles with different political forces on Friday, following a nationwide tour aimed at hearing proposals for constitutional amendments.

President Mohamed Morsy has pardoned several Islamists who had been serving life sentences that were issued by military or Supreme State Security courts during the Mubarak regime, said Islamist and security sources on Monday.

Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) is expected to rule on Monday on the petition made by the Muslim Brotherhood lawyers to recuse the judges that will rule on the constitutionality of the country's second Constituent Assembly, which is tasked with drafting Egypt's new constitution.

Some people are trying to tarnish the Muslim Brotherhood’s image spreading lies and launching smear campaigns, said Tareq Shalaby, spokesperson for the group’s supreme guide.

Egypt has agreed to keep the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip open for a full 12 hours every day, a Hamas leader said on Saturday, signalling a further shift in Cairo's stance since the election of a Muslim Brotherhood head of state in Egypt.

A number of religious and political figures expressed their discontent with the appointment of Mohamed Yosri Ibrahim, a member of the conservative Salafist Call organisation, as minister of religious endowments – Awqaf – in the new cabinet

Bulaq al-Dakrour prosecution has started investigating about 40 claims filed against four people for proselytizing the Shia faith in Nahya, Giza.

Abasseya’s St. Mark’s Cathedral was the site of a demonstration on Friday against what the protesters see as the Islamisation of Egypt’s new constitution.

During Egypt’s presidential campaign, the candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Morsi, made no apologies for the group’s slogan: “Islam is the solution.” Enlarge This Image

Amid ongoing negotiations over Egypt's new constitution, Maspero Copts United – a Coptic-Christian revolutionary movement – announced its rejection of recent proposals to make Islamic Law "the sole source" of Egyptian legislation.

Coptic thinker and writer Samir Morcos confirmed to Al-Ahram Arabic language website late Wednesday that he had received an offer from President Mohamed Morsi to join the presidential team as an assistant, making him the first Christian to be offered a job in Morsi's administration. Morcos, who is part of the "Third Current" coalition of liberal and leftist forces campaigning for an alternative to an Islamist or military state, would be part of the democratic affairs team in the new government, if he accepts.

The Asala Party has requested Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr instruct Egypt's diplomatic missions abroad to not offer alcoholic beverages during official events.

President Mohamed Morsy will meet Ismail Haniyeh, prime minister of the Gaza Strip, on Thursday, said presidential spokesperson Yasser Ali on Wednesday.

Disagreements between the Salafi-oriented Nour Party and the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party have escalated over the text of the second article of Egypt's anticipated constitution.

Al-Azhar called Tuesday on the international community to intervene to stop ethnic cleansing targeting Muslims in Myanmar.

Medhat El-Hadad, head of the Muslim Brotherhood's administrative office in Alexandria, revealed to Al-Ahram Al-Massai newspaper on Tuesday that ten ministerial posts in the new cabinet have been designated for members of the Freedom and Justice Party.