ts are an integral part of human rights and democracy, the statement continued. The National Council for Women (NCW) rejected the draft law on parliamentary elections discussed by the Shura Council on Wednesday.

Egypt's liberal Constitution Party has announced that it began internal party elections after last month's constitutional referendum. Some party members, however, have continued to demand the resignation of certain unelected party officials.

The Justice Ministry is working on a draft law to create a Socio-Economic Council, said Essam Farag, the vice president of the Court of Cassation.

Prosecutor-General Talaat Abdullah has ordered the formation of a special prosecution body to investigate crimes committed against revolutionaries by members of the former regime.

Human rights organizations began a signature campaign Sunday in solidarity with Tahani al-Gebali, former deputy of the Supreme Constitutional Court, who was ousted from the court along with seven other judges.

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) reduced the size of its offering in its daily foreign currency auction on Wednesday, a day after Qatar threw Egypt an economic lifeline by sending $2.5 billion in aid to help the country contain an ongoing currency crisis.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi will meet Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to discuss the Syrian crisis during his visit to Cairo on Wednesday, Tehran's ambassador to Cairo told pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat.

Egypt, battered by political turmoil and an economic crisis that has sent the local currency tumbling, will hold a parliamentary election in April, officials said on Wednesday.

Ismailia Military Court extended journalist Mohamed Sabry’s detention and postponed his case until 15 January, as several human rights organizations condemned his continued imprisonment Wednesday.

Ismailia Military Court extended journalist Mohamed Sabry’s detention and postponed his case until 15 January, as several human rights organizations condemned his continued imprisonment Wednesday.

The Egyptian pound hit a record low on Tuesday after weakening again at a central bank U.S. dollar auction designed to stem a decline in the country's dwindling foreign currency reserves.

Qatar has provided Egypt with US$5 billion in financial aid, including a $1 billion grant, Qatar's Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani said in a press conference in Cairo Tuesday attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Hesham Qandil.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) held "productive" discussions with Egypt about its economic strategy, a senior Fund official said on Monday after a visit to the country.

Former Deputy President of the Supreme Constitutional Court Tahani al-Gebali, has filed a challenge against Egypt’s new Constitution and its stipulations on the court’s system of adjudication.

Former presidential candidate and Strong Egypt Party head Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh has denied any intention to merge with the National Salvation Front in the upcoming parliamentary elections, accusing the front of deepening political divides.

Inclement weather on Monday prompted the closure of the Arish and Damietta marine ports and caused a road collision that led to the death of six people in northern Egypt, Egyptian state TV reported.

A Cairo criminal court on Monday sentenced journalist El-Walid Ismail to one year in prison for attacking Egyptian security personnel during last year's trial of ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

The Political Parties Affairs Committee has officially approved the establishment of the National Movement Party, founded by former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, Al-Arabiya website reported.

Yousef bin Gaon, the head of the Jewish community in Alexandria, condemned statements made by Essam al-Erian, vice president of the Freedom and Justice Party, in which he accused the regime of former President Gamal Abdel Nasser of expelling Egyptian Jews from Egypt.

Constitution Party leader Mohamed ElBaradei on Sunday reshuffled the party's steering committee and made changes to the party's structure in preparation for the upcoming parliamentary election.

Ten Egyptian ministers are decided to be replaced in a partial cabinet reshuffle, including the interior and finance ministers, state news agency MENA reported.