Persian Realm

Egypt protest call over 'coup'

Egypt protest call over 'coup' (bbc)

The opposition calls for large protests in Cairo after Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi passed a decree giving himself sweeping new powers.

Egypt tensions trigger clashes

Egypt tensions trigger clashes (bbc)

Fresh clashes break out in the Egyptian capital Cairo in the worst violence since President Mohammed Mursi took office at the end of June.

Egypt pardons 'revolutionaries'

Egypt pardons 'revolutionaries' (bbc)

Egypt's President Mohammed Mursi pardons all those arrested during the uprising that toppled former leader Hosni Mubarak, state media says.

'Beginning of end' for Egypt military

'Beginning of end' for Egypt military (bbc, video)

Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has ordered the retirement of two of the country's top generals: the powerful head of the armed forces, Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, and Chief of Staff Gen Sami Annan.

Samer Shehata of Georgetown University has said the move is likely to allow for "greater" democracy but whether Egypt's government will evolve towards a more "liberal" democracy remains to be seen.

Speaking to the BBC's Katty Kay, Mr Shehata said the development was "the beginning of the end" of the military's role in Egypt's civilian politics. 

Egypt tribes back Sinai offensive

Egypt tribes back Sinai offensive (bbc)

Bedouin tribal leaders in Egypt's Sinai peninsula give their backing to military offensive to restore security in the lawless region.

Clinton meets Egypt army leader

Mursi sworn in as Egypt's leader

Mursi sworn in as Egypt's leader (bbc)

Egypt's first freely elected, civilian president Mohammed Mursi is formally sworn in during a historic ceremony in the capital Cairo.

• "The Scaf has kept its promise not to be an alternative to the people's will"
• "Egypt is in acute need of every hand to build its bright future"
• "We stress Egypt's respect for international conventions and agreements"
• "We will support the Palestinian people until they regain all their legitimate rights"
• "We will restore the role of tourism in order to benefit the Egyptian economy"

Mursi to build Egypt government

Mursi to build Egypt government (bbc)

Egypt's first democratically-elected president, Mohammed Mursi, starts forming a government, after promising to be a leader for all Egyptians.

Islamist Mursi wins Egyptian presidency

Islamist Mursi wins Egyptian presidency (bbc)

The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Mursi is declared the winner of Egypt's presidential run-off, beating former PM Ahmed Shafiq with 51.7% of the vote

Musical freedom worries in Egypt

An Egyptian electro band says many musicians in the country are worried about what a new president could mean for their creative freedom

Egypt's military grants itself sweeping powers

Egypt's military grants itself sweeping powers (bbc)

Egypt's military council issues a declaration granting itself sweeping powers, as the Muslim Brotherhood claims victory in presidential polls.

Egypt vote enters second day

Voters go to the polls for a second day in Egypt's presidential election amid a bitter row over the dissolution of parliament.

Muslim Brotherhood anger at Egypt ruling

Brotherhood anger at Egypt ruling (bbc)

The Muslim Brotherhood warns that Egypt faces "dangerous days" ahead, after the supreme court calls for parliament's lower house to be dissolved.

Egypt court wants parliament dissolved

Egypt court wants parliament dissolved (bbc)

Egypt's supreme court causes outrage by ruling last year's election unconstitutional and calling for parliament's lower house to be dissolved.

Egypt constitution vote boycotted

An attempt to move Egypt closer to drafting a new constitution gets off to a shaky start after a boycott by MPs.

Deal reached on Egypt constitution panel

Deal on Egypt constitution panel (bbc)

Political parties in Egypt agree to the make-up of the panel that will write the country's new constitution, ending weeks of deadlock.

Egypt's state of emergency ends

Egypt's state of emergency, which gave extensive powers to the authorities to detain suspects, has expired after 31 years in force.

Egypt candidate Shafiq HQ stormed

Egypt candidate Shafiq HQ stormed (bbc)

The campaign HQ of Egyptian presidential run-off candidate Ahmed Shafiq is attacked, as hundreds gather to protest against the election result.

Fire at Egypt candidate Shafiq HQ

Fire at Egypt candidate Shafiq HQ (bbc)

A fire breaks out at the campaign headquarters of Egyptian presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq in Cairo, local television reports say.

Egypt poll: Islamist Mursi and ex-PM Shafiq in run-off

Islamist candidate Mohammed Mursi and Hosni Mubarak-era politician Ahmed Shafiq will contest a presidential run-off in June, Egypt's election commission confirms.

Polarised Egypt result confirmed

Polarised Egypt result confirmed (bbc)

The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Mursi and old regime figure Ahmed Shafiq will contest June's Egypt presidential run-off, state media confirm.

Religious pragmatist might be Egypt's next president

Egypt's potential next president (cnn)

Abdelmonen Abol Fotoh, an independent moderate Islamist candidate for the Egyptian presidency, and one many tip to become the country's first freely elected leader, if he gets through this week's first round of voting, has been a busy man these last weeks.

• Abdelmonen Abol Fotoh is running for Egypt's presidency as an independent
• He was formerly a member of the Muslim Brotherhood's Guidance Council
• A 2007 interview with CNN's Paul Cruickshank revealed some of his thinking
• He was part of the "middle generation" of relatively pragmatic Brotherhood leaders

really sad...

Egypt is slowly but steadily becoming an islamist state with sharia laws...

Egyptians vote in landmark poll

Egyptians vote in landmark poll (bbc)

Egyptians are heading to the polls in the first free presidential election in their history, made possible by last year's Arab Spring uprising.

Is Egypt headed for Islamist rule?

Is Egypt headed for Islamist rule? (cnn)

(CNN) -- Egypt's presidential race has been a political roller coaster. After banning 10 candidates earlier this month, the country's election commission banned and unbanned this week yet another well-known candidate, former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, although the constitutional court is still reviewing that decision. The remaining front-runners for president speak a similar language on the need for economic reform and political transition, but they hold very different positions on the role of Islam in a new Egypt.

In this sense, the presidential election will be an important indicator of how much weight Egyptians give to Islam as a factor in their political life.

• Isobel Coleman says Egyptian vote a roller coaster; unclear how big a role Islam will play
• Military's disqualifications of candidates raise question about election's fairness, she says
• She says secularist Amir Moussa, a front-runner, faces challenge from Islamist candidate
• Coleman: Votes for Muslim Brotherhood's Morsi could mean trouble for minorities, women

Egypt candidates barred from poll

Egypt candidates barred from poll (bbc)

Egyptian election officials bar 10 candidates from the presidential poll, including ex-spy chief Omar Suleiman and the Muslim Brotherhood's Khairat al-Shater.

Egypt court suspends Islamic dominated constitutional assembly

A court in Egypt suspends the Islamist-dominated assembly appointed last month to draft the country's new constitution.

Islamist elected to lead Egypt's constitutional assembly

Muslim Brotherhood names presidential candidate

Egyptian Christians prepare to bury Coptic pope

Christians prepare to bury Coptic pope (CNN)

Egypt's Coptic Christians are preparing for the funeral Pope Shenouda III, an event expected to bring millions of Christians onto the streets of Egypt at time when tensions with the Muslim majority are high.

• NEW: The leader of Egypt's Coptic church had lung cancer, a spokesman says
• The funeral could bring millions of Egyptian Christians out at a time of tension with Muslims
• Pope Shenouda III is to be buried Tuesday, a Coptic church spokesman says
• The Coptic Christian minority has been targeted in attacks in recent years