Major General Adel al-Morsy, head of the military judiciary, on Tuesday refused to disclose the number of people detained in the clashes that erupted last Friday between demonstrators and army troops in front of the Defense Ministry in Abbasseya.

Initial reactions varied towards Tuesday's controversial decision by the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC) to indefinitely suspend all of its activities, with some political forces blaming the legal body, while others took a swipe at the People's Assembly (the lower house of Egypt's parliament).

Parliament’s Proposals and Complaints Committee on Tuesday approved a draft law submitted by MP Yasser al-Qady proposing a harsher punishment for printing the Quran without a license.

In press statements on Tuesday, Farouk Sultan, chairman of the Presidential Elections Commission, said the election will be held on time.

Two thousand workers at Beshay Steel factories blocked the Cairo-Alexandria desert highway early Tuesday demanding better pay, an Ahram Online journalist at the scene reported.

The Presidential Elections Commission said it would stop its work in preparation for the election due later this month after what it said was an insult to the committee by members of Parliament during its session on Monday.

Parliament has introduced amendments to the Presidential Elections Law on Monday that are meant to ensure that no forgery takes place.

The judges investigating the clashes that took place last December in front of the cabinet building decided on Monday to refer 293 people to trial.

Intensive efforts have been exerted in recent days to put an end to the three-month-long showdown between the government of prime minister Kamal El-Ganzouri and the Islamist-dominated parliament.

Egyptian presidential candidates Hamdeen Sabbahi, Abul-Ezz El-Hariri and Hisham Bastawisi plan to hold a meeting on Monday in hopes of reaching agreement on a single presidential contender to represent Egypt's leftist political forces, sources close to the three men's electoral campaigns told Ahram Online. Egypt's first post-Mubarak presidential poll will be held on 23 and 24 May.

Giza Criminal Court has adjourned the profiteering case of businessman Ahmed Ezz, former Industry Minister Ibrahim Mohamedein and five representatives of Dekheila Steel Company to 9 May.

Members of a committee formed by the government’s National Human Rights Council decided on Monday to meet with individuals who have been detained following the violence that took place over the last week outside the Defense Ministry in Abbasseya, Cairo.

Presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi said Sunday that he would not serve as vice president to an Islamist or a member of the former regime because it would be against his political perspective and his view of what Egypt needed.

Only 60 local NGOs have applied to monitor the presidential election scheduled for 23 and 24 May, according to Egypt's flagship newspaper, Al-Ahram.

Several political forces have voiced concern over possible ramifications following Friday's Abbasiya clashes, saying such violence could negatively affect the transitional period that should see a new constitution drafted and a post-uprising president elected.

According to a military source, the North Cairo military prosecution has decided Saturday to keep in custody for 15 days pending investigations 300 of those arrested Friday. The accused were arrested following mass demonstrations against the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) at the Ministry of Defence in Abbasiya.

Mamdouh al-Wali, head of the Journalists Syndicate, called on the ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces to immediately release the journalists and media personnel who had been arrested during the clashes that took place on Friday in Abbasseya between military police and protesters.

The head of the military prosecution Adel El-Morsi announced on Saturday that all the women who have been arrested during the Friday demonstrations at the ministry of defence will be released. According to lawyers and military statements, at least 14 women have been amongst those arrested on Friday.

Several political forces have voiced concern over possible ramifications following Friday's Abbasiya clashes, saying such violence could negatively affect the transitional period that should see a new constitution drafted and a post-uprising president elected.

Thousands of protestors are marching in a rally that started from Fatah Mosque in Ramses Square on Thursday evening heading to Abbasseya, where 11 protesters were killed by suspected supporters of Egypt’s military rulers.

Egypt’s ruling military council is to hold a press conference on Thursday to give its views on the recent clashes in Abbasseya that left 11 killed, MENA reported. MENA added that the press conference will also tackle recent political developments. The news agency didn’t give further details.