Security forces have arrested controversial Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed al-Beltagy, state media reported Thursday. Beltagy was also arrested with former Manpower Ministry Khaled al-Azhar in Giza. Ahmed Helmy, assistant Interior Minister for Public Security confirmed the reports, adding that other leading figures within the Muslim Brotherhood were also captured.

Supporters of Egypt’s deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi vowed more rallies and called for marches on Friday despite a harsh police crackdown on their movement.

A source from the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) said most Brotherhood figures’ assets are being invested outside the bank and that no cash from the group members is being held at local banks.

The Interior Ministry said on Thursday that it is fully ready to firmly face any attempts against public security or encroachment on government, police or religious installations, using live ammunition in accordance to its right to self-defense.

The pro-Morsi Alliance to Support Legitimacy has called for peaceful protests on Friday dubbed "the people take back their revolution."

Expatriate Copts in Western capitals launched campaigns to draw attention to the violence of the Muslim Brotherhood and to expose it as a terrorist organization, and to support the Egyptian army, who they say is "fighting a war on terror" launched by pro-Morsy supporters against the Egyptian people at large.

Egypt should not ban the Muslim Brotherhood or exclude it from politics after the army's overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, the interim prime minister said on Tuesday, reversing his previous stated view.

Five members of Hamas were arrested in northern Sinai recently for involvement in the killing of 25 Egyptian policemen, Arab media reported on Wednesday.

The Coptic Orthodox Church Sacred Council passed a law on Sunday governing local church board elections.

Security forces in North Sinai have arrested 12 people, including one American, who are suspected of being involved in an explosion that took place near al-Sheikh Zuwaid police station on Tuesday.

Continuing the mass arrest campaign against anti-coup Egyptians in recent weeks, on Tuesday night security services arrested at least 64 members and sons of members of the Muslim Brotherhood in a number of Egyptian governorates.

MCN dispatched a team of journalists to uncover the details of these attacks, especially in Desiya and Tamiya in Fayoum governorate where Copts continue to be terrorized.

Military and police troops attacked houses of 23 suspects involved in burning down al-Wasty police station in Fayyoum and looting its contents. Two of them had previously escaped from the police station.

A poll conducted by the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research, or Baseera, published on Tuesday, showed that 69 percent of Egyptians reject the Muslim Brotherhood's future engagement in Egyptian politics.

On Tuesday, Egyptian prosecution formally charged detained Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohey Hamed with inciting murder and arming supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi during the deadly clashes that broke out near Cairo University on 30 June.

Egypt's prosecution has ordered the arrest of Islamist Preacher Abdullah Badr and Salafist Activist Gamal Saber for 15 days pending investigations on charges of inciting the murder of protesters near the Ittihadiya presidential palace in December.

''The thugs have been around for a long time and they're everywhere, they work in an unpredictable way, they're not organised, and what happened, happened at the same time, in the same scenario, in the same way, if there is a mastermind, if there was one person responsible, it isn't the duty of the Christians to ask who this person is, it's the duty of the government."

Salafi Dawa Vice-Chief Yasser Borhamy called on Egyptians to support the current leadership to confront the "West’s war against Egypt and Islam."

Egypt's prosecution has ordered the arrest of Islamist Preacher Abdullah Badr and Salafist Activist Gamal Saber for 15 days pending investigations on charges of inciting the murder of protesters near the Ittihadiya presidential palace in December.

The leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood was beaten by police during his arrest, and his trial is part of an attempt by the military to eliminate its political foes, a defence lawyer said on Sunday.

Despite bloodshed in Egypt, Muslims and Coptic Christians Egyptians live in solidarity