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News Coverage

prepared for: The European Union delegation

to Egypt

Disclaimer:

“This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The

contents of this document are the sole responsibility of authors of articles and under no

circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of IPSOS or the European Union.”

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Thematic Headlines

Domestic Scene Baradei: Constituent Assembly Does Not Represent Egyptians Absence of Consensus Threatens to Crumble 2nd Constituent Assembly Ex-Minister Says His Funds Were Frozen After Refusing to Join Shafiq Government Islamic Group to Submit Draft Constitution Writers Union to File Lawsuit to Nullify Constituent Assembly Panel Formed to Check on Lands Included in Corrupt Deal with Mubarak Sons Mubarak Fears Murder inside Prison Army Calls on People to Vote in Elections Armed Forces to Secure Polling Stations

SCAF Admin Urges Citizens to Vote in Runoff

Constituent Assembly Crisis

MPs Meet Israeli Knesset Delegation Mubarak Sons Trial on July 9

Egypt Awaits Constitutional Court’s Decisions April 6 Declares Supporting Morsi in the Runoff Shafiq’s Vows El-Baradei and Sabahy Discuss Forming an Opposition Front Ultras Ahlawy: We Will Never Support Shafiq for Presidency Number of Hunger Strikers Reaches 63 Islamist and Liberal Disagreements Threaten Constituent Assembly Army Vehicles Urge Egyptians to Participate in Elections 90 International Observers to Monitor the Runoff

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Newspapers (13/06/2012)

Page: 1, 3 Author: several authors

Constituent Assembly Crisis

Among several disagreements, the Constituent Assembly started yesterday morning to choose its members. The total number of candidates for the constitution-writing body was 1,308.

Former presidential candidates Amr Moussa, Hamdeen Sabahi Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh and Selim el-Awwa are nominated to be members at the Assembly.

MPs should elect 100 main members and 50 members as a backup. The Supreme Constitutional Court will not be a member in the Assembly.

As many as 58 members who represent 12 political parties withdrew from the Assembly in protest of its composition.

Among those parties: Al-Karama, Tagamou’, Free Egyptians, Democratic Alliance. Al-Wafd Party denied its withdrawal from the Assembly.

Presidential candidate Mohamed Morsi said People’s Assmebly Speaker Saad el-Katatni and Shura Council Speaker Ahmed Fahmi will not be members in the Assembly.

Similar news was reported in Al-Dostour Page 1 and 7

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Page: 1 Author: Mohamed Hejab and others

MPs Meet Israeli Knesset Delegation

The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) denied what Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that members of its political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) will meet members of the Israeli Knesset in the US.

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Page: 4 Author: Ali Sham

SCAF Admin Urges Citizens to Vote in Runoff

The Admin of the Facebook page of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) urged the citizens to vote in the runoff of the presidential polls and said “whoever our choice is we must vote in the runoff”.

“You have been elected by the people, whatever your political affiliation is, you should serve the country and achieve the citizens’ demands,” he wrote to the new president.

He added SCAF is not biased to any candidate and will stand against any attempt to spread chaos.

Similar news was reported in Al-Dostour Newspaper, Page 1

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Page: 4 Author: not mentioned

Armed Forces to Secure Polling Stations

The Armed Forces will start tomorrow measures to secure polling stations and prevent any attempts to spoil the voting process.

Some members of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) will inspect 13,000 sub-stations and 350 stations.

As many as 150 soldiers from the Armed Forces will secure the elections and 11,000 ambulances cars will be on stand-by.

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Page: 1 Author: Fatma Zidan

Ex-Minister Says His Funds Were Frozen After Refusing to Join Shafiq Government

Former Trade and Industry Minister Rashid Mohamed Rashid, who is currently fugitive outside Egypt, said he was given a dressing-down by the ousted president Hosni Mubarak in 2011 when he (Rashid) refused to join the government under Ahmed Shafiq in 2011.

Days after his rejection, a travel ban was issued against Rashid and his wife and their funds were frozen, the former minister recalls.

In an interview with TV presenter Amr Adib aired on “Orbit”, Rashid said that Shafiq had asked him on January 30, 2011, to be part of the new government.

“Mubarak then scolded me over the phone for turning down the request and said I order you to be in Shafiq’s government,” Rashid said.

“When I told him I had enough with the government, Mubarak hung the phone angrily and I felt something not good was about to happen,” he said.

Four days later, the travel ban and funds freeze decisions were issued, Rashid said.

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Page: 1 Author: Not mentioned

Absence of Consensus Threatens to Crumble 2nd Constituent Assembly

The journey of drafting Egypt’s new constitution sailed off Tuesday but unfortunately with the absence of consensus among political powers.

Non-appointed MPs of both chambers cast their votes to choose members of the second Constituent Assembly as the first one was annulled by court in March.

The Tuesday meeting witnessed a critical crisis after members of 14 parliamentary blocs, which consist of 79 MPs, have walked out in addition to 12 others from Al-Wafd Party.

The members who pulled out accuse religious powers of dominating the composition of the constitution-writing body and insisting on getting 50% of the seats.

Among the withdrawn blocs were the Free Egyptians Party, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, Al-Tagammu Party, Al-Karama Party, Justice Party, Socialist Popular Alliance Party and Egypt National Party.

After walking out of the meeting, the MPs issued a statement saying they were obliged to leave due to the absence of national consensus, which should have been there to ensure a balanced constitution.

For its part, the Supreme Constitutional Court said it would not be part of the Constituent Assembly.

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Page: 4 Author: Mona Yassin and Sahar el-Meligi

Writers Union to File Lawsuit to Nullify Constituent Assembly

President of the Egyptian Writers Union Mohamed Selmawi said the union would file a lawsuit to nullify the Constituent Assembly, which is assigned with writing the nation’s new constitution.

The suit will be lodged with the Supreme Constitutional Court, Selmawi said.

The constitution is not a political document to be dominated by political parties; it is a social and cultural document, Selmawi told Al-Masry Al-Yom newspaper.

Religious powers still dominate the composition of the new Constituent Assembly, just like the first one, which was dissolved by court in March, he said.

He wondered why his union was not represented in the constitution-drafting body.

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Page: 5 Author: Ebtessam Talaab and Alaa Sarhan

Baradei: Constituent Assembly Does Not Represent Egyptians

Political activist Mohamed el-Baradei criticized the new formation of the Constituent Assembly; the body assigned with writing the new constitution, and described it as a new bid to abort the revolution.

This try would not succeed in undermining the revolution because Egyptians do not see themselves in the Constituent Assembly composition, Baradei said on Twitter.

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Page: 5 Author: Mounir Adib

Islamic Group to Submit Draft Constitution

The Islamic Group said it would submit a draft constitution on the Constituent Assembly when it convenes its first meeting.

The group will only propose its visions of the new constitution and would not seek in any way to force them on members of the Constituent Assembly, said MP Amer Abdel-Rahim, spokesman of the parliamentary bloc of the Construction and Development Party, the political arm of the Islamic Group.

The Constituent Assembly would draft the new constitution within 6 months of its first meeting, Abdel-Rahim said.

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Page: 5 Author: Ahmed Gomaa

Army Calls on People to Vote in Elections

Vehicles affiliated with the army’s morale affairs department wandered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the revolution that brought the downfall of the regime of Hosni Mubarak, to call on the people to vote in the second round of the presidential elections held between former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq and Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi.

Through microphones, the army said “Great people, the era of watching the elections on TV is over. We will celebrate with you the first president to be elected after the revolution.”

The vehicles also distributed fliers to encourage the citizens to cast their ballots.

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Page: 1 Author: Mohamed Al-Sayed

Mubarak Sons Trial on July 9

The Court of Appeals set the date of July 9 to be the trial of the sons of former President Hosni Mubarak, Alaa and Gamal, in the case of stock market manipulation.

Similar news was reported in Al-Ahram Newspaper Page 1

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Page: 1 Author: Nassr Abdo

Shafiq’s Vows

During a talk show on the Pharaohs Channel, presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq said the Egyptian farmer was oppressed under the former regime and promised to solve his problems.

Shafiq said that developing the educational system is one of his top priorities.

He also said once he assumes power as the country’s president, he will implement a national minimum wage estimated at EGP1200.

He promised to solve the problems of Nubia, to build an industrial zone in Nasser Lake area, and to provide all the services needed in Upper Egypt governorates.

Shafiq promised to protect women’s rights. He also suggested building an industrial zone in Sinai.

He concluded the interview by saying that he is confident that Egyptians will choose the best for their country.

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Page: 1. Authors: Hoda Abu Bakr and Asmaa Fathi.

Egypt Awaits Constitutional Court’s Decisions

Will presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq be excluded from the presidential race or will he continue to compete in the runoff? All Egyptians await a decision from the Supreme Constitutional Court to decide Shafiq’s fate in the presidential elections.

The court will also examine the appeal referred to it by the Supreme Administrative

Court to determine the constitutionality of some of the articles of the People’s Assembly Election Law. If the articles of the law were found unconstitutional, the court will either dissolve the entire parliament or only the one third in question.

The expected scenarios in the case of the Political Isolation Law are three; first, the court

might issue a decision of the unconstitutionality of the Political Isolation Law and determines that the Presidential Elections Commission does not have the jurisdiction to refer the law to the court. Second, the court might approve the Presidential Elections Commission’s decision to refer the law to it without finding the law constitutional. The third and most unlikely scenario is that the court confirms the constitutionality of the Political Isolation Law.

If the Supreme Constitutional Court approved the Political Isolation Law, Shafiq will be

excluded from the presidential race and the Presidential Elections Commission will then determine whether it will hold re-elections or allow third contender, Hamdeen Sabahy, to replace Shafiq.

Similar news was reported in: Youm 7: Page 3.

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Page: 3. Authors: Mohamed Abu Zeid, Menna Sharaf El-Din (and others).

El-Baradei and Sabahy Discuss Forming an Opposition Front

A meeting was held between Dr. Mohamed El-Baradei, former chief of the IAEA, and ex-contender Hamdeen Sabahy to discuss a roadmap for Egypt’s transitional phase and reflect on ways to overcome its difficulties.

It is the third in a series of meetings held between the two politicians since El-Baradei’s

return to Egypt in February 2010. During the meeting, they discussed the expected scenarios for the transitional phase and

how secular and liberal forces will confront the new developments. They both agreed on the importance of uniting all liberal, secular and leftist forces to lead the Egyptian society and preserve the civil nature of the state.

They proposed holding joint meetings between the Constitution Party and Al-Karama

Party to coordinate their efforts and create a common ground between various political forces. They also agreed that if Ahmed Shafiq was excluded from the presidential race and re-

elections were held, then a presidential council composed of seven politicians and military generals should be formed to oversee elections and administer the remaining transitional phase.

Similar news was reported in: Al-Shorouk: Page 1.

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Page: 5. Author: Bassam Abu Bakr.

Ultras Ahlawy: We Will Never Support Shafiq for Presidency

Ultras Ahlawy, hardcore football fans of Al-Ahly Team, issued a statement on their official page on Facebook to respond to rumors which claimed they support Ahmed Shafiq for presidency.

In their statement, they confirmed that the Ultras group is not politicized by any means

and that they do not have any political affiliations. They said they will only support the revolution and will continue to pursue its goals.

Ultras Ahlawy confirmed they never participated in any meetings with Shafiq and their

position is clear from all the remnants of the Mubarak regime. They said their loyalty belongs only to the blood of the martyrs and they would never support anyone who was part of the former corrupt regime.

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Page: 3. Author: Nada Al-Khouly.

Number of Hunger Strikers Reaches 63

Dozens of political activists continued their hunger strike and sit-in in front of the People’s Assembly for the seventh day. The number of hunger strikers reached 63; all of them demand implementing the Political Isolation Law to exclude former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq from the presidential race. They also demand bringing to justice all the officials in state institutions responsible for tampering with the evidence that indicts those who killed the revolution’s martyrs.

Hunger strikers await a response from Members of the Parliament and call on them to

begin a sit-in inside the Parliament until these demands are achieved. They threatened to escalate their strike by refusing to receive anything but water.

A number of political movements organized a march yesterday to support the sit-in.

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Page: 3. Author: Reham So’oud.

April 6 Declares Supporting Morsi in the Runoff

The April 6 movement, Ahmed Maher Front, officially declared giving their support to the Muslim Brotherhood’s presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Morsi during the runoff. They called on all Egyptians to support Morsi against Ahmed Shafiq who represents a serious attempt to reproduce the former Mubarak regime.

The movement said their support to Morsi was based on his approval of the so-called

National Consensus Document; which includes: Forming a coalition government, holding retrials for all those involved in killing peaceful protesters, setting maximum and minimum wages, and appointing Hamdeen Sabahy and Dr. Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh as deputies.

Engy Hamdy, member of the movement’s political bureau, said their position might be

altered if the Supreme Constitutional Court decided to exclude Ahmed Shafiq from the presidential race. She also confirmed that if Morsi did not fulfill the terms of the document, the movement will seize to support his presidential bid.

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Pages: 1, 5. Authors: Nour Ali, Nermine Abd Al-Zaher (and others).

Islamist and Liberal Disagreements Threaten Constituent Assembly

The joint session of the People’s Assembly and the Shoura Council held yesterday to select members of the Constituent Assembly resulted in a complete failure.

Islamist and liberal parties severely disagreed on the Constituent Assembly’s formation

and exchanged accusations during the joint session. Liberal and secular parties pulled out from the Constituent Assembly to protest the

domination of Islamists. They threatened to escalate their position by resorting to the court. The Supreme Constitutional Court also announced its withdrawal from the Constituent

Assembly, confirming that the assembly does not reflect national consensus.

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Page: 4. Authors: Eman Ali, Mahmoud Abd Al-Ghani (and others).

Army Vehicles Urge Egyptians to Participate in Elections

Pedestrians in Tahrir Square were surprised yesterday to see an armored vehicle and Military Police cars circling the area and urging citizens to cast their votes in the runoff stage of presidential elections.

Army personnel used microphones to inform citizens that the Armed Forces support the

people’s revolution and urge them to elect their new president.

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Page: 4. Author: Hani Othman.

90 International Observers to Monitor the Runoff

The Carter Center decided to send a limited delegation of observers to monitor some of the polling stations in Egypt during the runoff scheduled for June 16 and 17. The delegation is composed of 90 international observers who belong to 36 countries.

The Carter Center had sent 26 observers to evaluate the presidential campaigns of the

two contenders. The Presidential Elections Commission will grant the observers permits to be able to supervise the process of voting and vote counting during the runoff.

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Page: 3 Author: Gamal Hussein and Mohamed Adel

Mubarak Fears Murder inside Prison

Ousted President Hosni Mubarak fears he might get killed inside prison, said his lawyer Farid el-Deeb.

“When I visited him at Tora Prison Hospital few days ago, Mubarak told me his life was on the line and could be killed by the insane or haters,” Deeb said.

Speaking over the phone with a TV show, Deeb said he does not call for a pardon for Mubarak on health grounds, but wants him to be moved to a military hospital to receive

adequate medical attention.

Deeb said he submitted requests to prison officials and the prosecutor general to move Mubarak and held them responsible for the former president’s deteriorating health conditions.

On June 2, Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison over complicity in killing protesters during the January revolution, which forced out of power, and since then has been moved to Tora Prison Hospital to serve his term.

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Page: 3 Author: Khadiga Afifi

Panel Formed to Check on Lands Included in Corrupt Deal with Mubarak Sons

Counselor Osama el-Saadi, the investigative judge assigned with probing accusations against former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq, ordered a technical commission formed by the Illicit Gains Authority to inspect the lands.

On May 13, the People's Assembly, the lower house of parliament, decided to refer to the prosecutor general for investigation a land sale contract forged between Shafiq and the sons of the former president upon MP Essam Sultan's complaint.

The contract is dated November 1993, under which a 40,238-square meter land, overlooking the Great Bitter Lake, was sold for a nugatory price of EGP 0.75 per meter, while its real value was EGP 8.

Shafiq was then the chairman of an association supervising the land.

The land is owned by the state and was allocated to an association for young Air Force soldiers. Immediately after becoming the chairman of the association, Shafiq's first decision was to sell the land, Sultan had said.

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TV Coverage (12/6/2012)

Program: Al-Hayat Al-Yoom Channel: Al-Hayat Host: Sherief Amer

MPs vote to choose members of the Constituent Assembly.

Similar news was reported in: Program: Al-Hayat Al-An, Channel: Al-Hayat, Host: Maha Bahnasy Program: Akhbar Masr, Channel 1”State TV” Program: Masr Al-Gadeda, Channel: Al-Hayat 2, Host: Moataz Al-Demerdash Program: News, Channel: Al-Nahar

Program: Hona Al-Asema, Channel: CBC, Host: Lamis Al-Hadidy

11 political parties withdrew from the Constituent Assembly.

Similar news was reported in: Program: Akhbar Masr, Channel 2”State TV” Program: Akhbar Masr, Channel 1”State TV” Program: 24 Hours News, Channel 1”State TV” Program: News, Channel: Al-Nahar

Program: Hona Al-Asema, Channel: CBC, Host: Lamis Al-Hadidy

Cairo’s Court of Appeal scheduled the trial of Mubarak’s sons in the case of stock

market manipulation for July 9.

Similar news was reported in: Program: Akhbar Masr, Channel 1”State TV” Program: Akhbar Masr, Channel 2”State TV”

The Supreme Constitutional Court withdrew from the Constituent Assembly.

Similar news was reported in: Program: 24 Hours News, Channel 1”State TV” Program: News, Channel: Al-Nahar Program: Hona Al-Asema, Channel: CBC, Host: Lamis Al-Hadidy

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Program: Akhbar Masr Channel 1”State TV”

Public Prosecutor orders completing the investigations in the electoral violations.

Cairo’s Criminal Court resumes hearing the testimonies in Camel Battle Case.

Similar news was reported in: Program: Al-Hayat Al-Yoom , Channel: Al-Hayat, Host: Sherief Amer

Program: Akhbar Masr, Channel 2”State TV”

Program: Akhbar Masr Channel 2”State TV”

Names of the Constituent Assembly’s members will be announced when the vote count

ends.

Similar news was reported in Program: 24 Hours News, Channel 1”State TV”

The Supreme Administrative Court referred the cases of excluding Shafiq and Morsi

from the presidential race to the State Commissioners Authority.

Similar news was reported in Program: 24 Hours News, Channel 1”State TV”

Presidential Elections Commission will hold a press conference to explain the

development in the electoral process.

Similar news was reported in: News, Channel: Al-Nahar

Program: 24 Hours News, Channel 1”State TV”

Stock Market achieves gains of EGP 2.6mn.

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Radio Coverage (12/6/2012

News Channel: Radio Masr Time: 25:00:00

Speaker of the People’s Assembly Dr. Saad El-Katatni announces the names of the

Constituent Assembly’s members.

Similar news was reported in Channel: Al-Shabab w Al-Reyada, time : 23:15:00

The Presidential Elections Commission will hold a press conference to explain new developments in the electoral process.

The Supreme Administrative Court referred the cases of excluding Shafiq and Morsi from the presidential race to the State Commissioners Authority.

Cairo’s Criminal Court resumes hearing the testimonies in Camel Battle Case.

Cairo’s Cassation Court scheduled the trial of Mubarak’s sons in the case of stock market manipulation for July 9.

News Channel: Al-Shabab w Al-Reyada Time: 23:15:00

The Supreme Constitutional Court withdrew from the Constituent Assembly.

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Internet Coverage (13/6/2012)

Facebook We Are All Khaled Saeed:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=428256953890841&set=a.104265636289976.2684.104224996294040&type=1

Know your rights. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wsJH8jWfME

Arabawy:

Good ol’ Badri is back… with Shafiq this time

Adel el-Badri strikes again… This time he’s outright supporting General Ahmad Shafiq, the counterrevolution’s presidential candidate…

Meanwhile, Badri is still quoted by journalists and Western scholars as a “trade unionist”, rather than his real truth: an opportunist imposter with corrupt politics, whose “union” does not have any presence on the ground whatsoever.

Ratings of a Sand monkey:

Fairy Tale:

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, there used to be a planet called Earth, and on this planet there was a country called Egypt, which was known for its magnificent beauty, bountiful soil and unpredictable people. Unfortunately for its inhabitants, this land was cursed by its location, for it lay smack in the middle of three continents occupied by unfriendly psychotic barbarians, warmongers and French people, which made anyone who wanted to add the words “the great” to his name desire to invade it and rule it.

One day the Egyptians, after having a civilization that spanned millenniums and resisted occupiers, was invaded by such external forces, and the wizards of the land, before they fled, unleashed a curse of their own on the land and its people: “For whomever attempts to rule this land after us, will never really get to enjoy it for long and will suffer great misfortune, death and destruction, and watch his dreams and ambitions crumble in front of their very eyes*”.

No one believed in this curse to their determent, even though it proved time after time to be true and to haunt those invaders and rulers till the day they died. Cesar, Cleopatra, Alexander, all faced horrible deaths, so did the Islamic dynasties that followed. Every Mongol invader who would bring the world to his knees would come to this country and have his tidal

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wave of destruction broken. Even Napoleon, who tried to break the curse by claiming to have converted to Islam, one day fled it with his tail between his legs, to later lose all of his glory and get exiled away from his country; and Hitler, who watched his own star general Rommel get his ass handed to him on its soil, thus truly signaling the end of his great world war. Whoever occupied it, or even attempted to, was immediately challenged by internal forces or external

ones. However nothing, nothing compared to having to deal with its enchanted people.

At first glance they seem docile and harmless, and it seems like with the proper use of force and oppression, you can sustain your rule there for a long time, but even that proved to be futile, for the people might allow you to rule them, but they will always destroy your dreams and ambitions afterwards, and you will always suffer restless days and horrible endings, while they will simply continue to live and prosper after the worms devour you and your bones turn to dust. The Fatimid called its capital “Alqahira”, meaning the” Vanquisher” or the “Conqueror”, some even went as far as calling it the “City victorious”, but other people insist that its name came from “Alqaher”, which is an ancient Arabic name for the planet Mars (named after the Roman god of war, and red like the blood he supposedly spilled), which would make its inhabitants Martians, something that most people, when they think about it for

a minute, agree with without much hesitation.

As the second millennium after Christ drew to a close, the country had finally expelled its last external occupation, and for the first time in centuries, its people seemed to be in control of their own fate. Unfortunately, no real wizards were found at the time to lift the curse, and it continued to destroy the lives and ambitions of those who ruled it.

King Farouk was exiled with his family, President Naguib was overthrown and house-arrested for almost two decades, President Nasser – whose ambitions and glories encompassed the entire region- was defeated in almost every battle, kicked out of every land he tried to occupy and died with his land occupied and watching his dream in shambles, President Sadat – after working for years to solidify his rule, expel the Judean invaders and bring peace to his country- was assassinated, and President Mubarak, who was a simple man with no dreams or ambitions of his own, ended up losing everything and thrown in jail- because of his wife’s and son’s ambitions to rule after him irked the curse- in a popular uprising that inspired the entire world and made them wish for a second to be Egyptian, and thus found themselves under the power of that ancient curse as well. Uprisings in all of their countries erupted, and the whole world was engulfed in the glorious flame of discontent and broken dreams and ambitions of

those who wish to rule it.

The Uprising- later known as the Tahrir uprising- was that of the people, by the people, which was great, until its ambitious leaders, very quickly, started falling prey to the curse as well, growing delusional in their vision, and disconnected from the population in their beliefs. They saw their rule immediately challenged by the warrior class, who regarded themselves the true guardians of the realm, not knowing that they were under the power of the curse as well. Clashes erupted, dreams died, and blood was spilled, with the leaders of the uprising still

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talking a good game, but had nothing to show for it, really, except a sense of foreboding that the curse is not done with them yet. Many thought of leaving, of escaping this land once and for all, but they were of its people, and the curse only allows so few every year to get away. For better or worse, they were staying, watching fantastic events and complicated designs unfold in front of their own eyes, and wondering how they fucked up so greatly.

In the aftermath of that uprising, a relatively old, powerful and secret order, called “The Brotherhood” emerged, and tried to rule the land as well. At first it seemed like their magic was strong and that they might finally break the curse and rule the Country, with almost nothing stopping them, and with the people seemingly agreeing with them and supporting them. But they too fell victims to the curse and the enchanted people, who got them so very close to achieving their ambitions, and are now enjoying very much watching them squirm trying to secure it.

The final battle for the throne was upon us, with two contenders left standing while everyone else withered and vanished: One from the warrior class and the other from the brotherhood. The first a Fighter Pilot, the latter a rocket scientist and they both went head to

head over the battle to get the Martians to choose one of them to rule the land.

As if fitting with the Star Wars theme of the first democratic elections in the 21st century, the battle this time was different, with no blood spilled, but with warriors battling each other with words over satellite channels and the internees, trying to lay a charm on the population that one of those two idiots was worthy to lead them. In a few days, one will reign supreme and the other will be destroyed, signaling the end of his order, although very quickly the winner will wonder what he won exactly, and when the curse takes him on, will wish to have lost instead of watching his own hopes and dreams crumble all around him, just like his predecessors. This was the way of the curse: It took no prisoners, gave no parlay, made no exceptions...well…except one.

You see, the wizards of the ancient order were not complete assholes. They loved this country and its Martian inhabitants, for they were their people after all. So, in the fine print, on the scroll where this curse was written, there was a footnote after the word “eyes*”. The footnote stated the following: “unless he works for the people, helps them, solves their problems and wins their trust without any ulterior motives or ambitions.

Only he, who does that, will break the curse for the time being over the people and the land”. In the recorded history of the country, this had only happened in one location, for a brief period of time, and that place was called Tahrir, and it lasted 18 days, where Egyptians finally exhibited how they were really like when they were free from the curse. But on the 19th day, the leaders of the Tahrir uprising, like all others, grew ambitions and dreams of grandeur themselves and the desire for revenge ruled their hearts, and the curse was back in full force, and the rest is history.

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In order for the curse to be broken and lifted permanently, we advice the next generations to give up on all of their dreams and ambitions of grandeur, and instead to focus on assisting their people to lead better lives. We advice them to help them, and to serve them, without ambitions or ulterior motives of their own, or greed and vengeance in their hearts, for the curse punishes the greedy and the corrupt, no matter how good they may appear to the population or to themselves. He, who does that, will be unstoppable, and no secret order or warrior class will be able to tarnish his image or kill his people. The curse has survived for thousands of years, and was almost never broken, because all of those who challenged it forgot the one simple truth that was always their own undoing: To rule is to love and to serve. The end.

Twitter @AsmaaMahfouz

Let history remembers that 40 Egyptians starved themselves and slept on the side of the road so that the political elite would wake up and face the danger ahead of them.

The National Association for Change will hold a press conference tomorrow to express their solidarity with the hunger strikers in front of the People’s Assembly. We will also announce an important statement during the press conference.

MP Amr Hamzawy and ex-contender Dr. Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh have joined the sit-in to support us.

@WaelAbbas

Actor Ahmed Ezz is accused of defamation of religion!

Who made the mothers of the revolution’s martyr’s travel to Tehran? https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s480x480/579843_379587572103652_1963079481_n.jpg‏

@AalamWassef

“Army APC and 2 jeeps guarding a car boosting propaganda:http://youtu.be/sHjRXBi7Ax4 — More historical shots from @kikhote”

“I wonder what if feels right now to be an Egyptian soldier or mid ranking officer. I hope it feels awful.”

“SCAF is able to control the fate of millions simply because they have the guns, the bullets, APCs and media. And that does it. Cool.”

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“This video was shared 250 times on Twitter today. Congrats to all those who made it cc @salmasaid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRplr7mxXTs — the next president”

“Morsy? Shafik? Smart ppl are increasingly lost in absurd calculations. It's a *re-vo-lu-tion*. You don't negotiate. You take, you don't ask.”

“According to my Twitter feed, Egyptians are pondering whether they should support Shafik, Morsy, Poland or Russia. Elections getting messy.” @Arabist

“New on Arabist: The Libyan Rorschach http://arb.st/LULjaT”

“Muslim Brotherhood urged to share power in Egypt | The Guardian:http://bit.ly/ML3YX6 Hearst on Ghannouchi and the Egyptians.”

“Curfew imposed 9pm-5am in several Tunisian provinces after violence btw protestors and police.”

“Egypt military judiciary wants MP’s immunity lifted over Tantawi insult - Ahram: http://bit.ly/LiosEP MB made this possible.”

“New on Arabist: In Translation: Houdaiby on why back Morsihttp://arb.st/L3mkUm”

“I preferred a non-elected constituent assembly of course. Revolutions can impose their own logic.”

“Putting constitution last in the transition sequence was a stroke of counter-revolutionary genius. Thanks SCAF! Thanks MB! Thanks Bishri!”

“Ahmed Shafiq, the jihadist's candidate of choice.”

@Iyad_ElBaghdadi

“I hear people call for facing hate/prejudice with hate/prejudice and saying "fight fire with fire!" Ever tried putting out a fire with fire?” @Ghonim

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who can't read and write, but those who can't learn, unlearn and relearn. Alvin Toffler”

The Constituent Assembly’s crisis emerges again. It is nothing but a superficial disagreement on the political backgrounds of the assembly’s members. No one really focuses on

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the real essence of the crisis; that is to find efficient and qualified members to draft the constitution of a nation that revolted.

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Publication overview

Al-Ahram: Egyptian state-run official daily newspaper

Founded in 1875, is the most widely circulating Egyptian daily newspaper, and the second oldest after al-Waqa'i`al-Masriya (English: The Egyptian Events, founded 1828). It is majority owned by the Egyptian government.

Al-Akhbar: Egyptian state-owned semi-official daily newspaper

It was founded in May 1952 as a part of Akhbar El Yom.

Al-Gomhoria: Egyptian state-owned daily newspaper

An influential state-owned Egyptian Arabic language daily newspaper. It was established in 1954.

Al-Shorouk: Egyptian daily independent newspaper

Are a prominent Arabic newspaper published in Egypt [1] and several other Arabic nations It is a daily independent newspaper, covering mainly politics, militant affairs and sport.

Al-Masry al-Yom: Independent daily newspaper

On 7 June 2004, it published its first edition. The paper initially circulated primarily amongst Cairo’s intellectual elite, providing objective news coverage in the belief that good news would beat sensationalist reporting found in other Egyptian print media. After 3 years, it was challenging Al-Ahram for the status of being the national paper of record. Though

Tahrir: Daily independent newspaper

Dostor: Daily independent newspaper

Yom 7: Daily independent newspaper

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Table of Content: Newspapers ………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………3-24

Al Ahram Newspaper Constituent Assembly Crisis……………………………………………………………………………………………………3 MPs Meet Israeli Knesset Delegation…………………………………………………………………………………………..4 SCAF Admin Urges Citizens to Vote in Runoff………………………………………………………………………………5 Armed Forces to Secure Polling Stations………………………………………………………………………………………..6

Al masry al youm Newspaper Ex-Minister Says His Funds Were Frozen After Refusing to Join Shafiq Government……………………………………7 Absence of Consensus Threatens to Crumble 2nd Constituent Assembly…………………………………………………8 Writers Union to File Lawsuit to Nullify Constituent Assembly…………………………………………………………….9 Baradei: Constituent Assembly Does Not Represent Egyptians…………………………………………………………..10 Islamic Group to Submit Draft Constitution………………………………………………………………………………….11

AL Gomhoria newspaper Army Calls on People to Vote in Elections…………………………………………………………………………………….12

Al dostour Newspaper Mubarak Sons Trial on July 9……………………………………………………………………………………………………13 Shafiq’s Vows……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..14

Al Tahrir Newspaper… Egypt Awaits Constitutional Court’s Decisions……………………………………………………………………………..15 El-Baradei and Sabahy Discuss Forming an Opposition Front…………………………………………………………….16 Ultras Ahlawy: We Will Never Support Shafiq for Presidency……………………………………………………………..17

Al Sherouk Newspaper.. Number of Hunger Strikers Reaches 63 …………………………...…………………………………………………………..18 April 6 Declares Supporting Morsi in the Runoff……………………………………………………………………………19

Al youm al 7 newspaper Islamist and Liberal Disagreements Threaten Constituent Assembly…………………..………………………………….20 Army Vehicles Urge Egyptians to Participate in Elections………………………………………………………………….21 90 International Observers to Monitor the Runoff………………………………………………………………………….22

Al Akhbar Newspaper Mubarak Fears Murder inside Prison………………………………………………………………………………………..23 Panel Formed to Check on Lands Included in Corrupt Deal with Mubarak Sons……………………………………….24

TV Coverage…………………………………………………………..………...……...………...….………..…27-28 Al-Hayat 2…………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………..27 CBC ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………27 Channel 1………………………………………………………………………………….…………….….………….….…27-28 Channel 2……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………28

Radio Coverage…………………………………………………………………..………..……….…………….…..………..29

Radio Masr …………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………….29 Al-Shark Al-Awsat ………………………………………………………………………………………...…………………….29 Mega fm……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………29

Internet coverage……………………………………………………………………….……......……….…....……..…… 30-33

Facebook……………………………………………………………….…………………………………...…….……………..30 Muslim brotherhood......................................................................................................................................................................33 Twitter…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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