Nobel Laureate Mohamed ElBaradei was sworn into office as Egypt’s vice-president for international relations on Sunday, reported the state news agency MENA. The news comes only several days after the ouster of former president, Mohamed Morsi.
Also just breaking this morning (EST): Egypt is launching a criminal investigation against deposed President Mohamed Morsi, on charges of spying, inciting violence and destroying the economy.
NSF delegates Sabahi and others to negotiate with govt post Mohamed Morsi ouster
The National Salvation Front, an opposition alliance formed last year to voice dissent against Egypt’s now-toppled Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, has delegated some of its members to begin discussions with the president’s office and the government.
Hamdeen Sabahi from the Popular Current Party, Samy Ashour from the Journalists’ Syndicate and Sayed al-Badawi from the Wafd Party will lead the negotiations with the government.
The discussion’s purpose is to present the Front’s perspective on the recent constitutional declaration and establish dialogue channels with the authorities.
The NSF submitted its suggestions on the constitutional decree to Egypt’s interim President Adli Mansour last week.
Egypt’s interim Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi continued his negotiations on Sunday to form a new government after a coup ousted former president Mohamed Morsi.
Beblawi expressed hopes that the new government will have been formed by Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
He said that the new government will include 30 ministers and two advisors, one for the economy and another for security.
He pointed out that some ministers who served in the former government will continue in their posts.
Reuters has reported that Beblawi will ask Gouda Abdel Khaleq and Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour to be part of the government.
Egypt’s interim PM resumes negotiations for new govt post Mohamed Morsi
The National Salvation Front, an opposition alliance formed last year to voice dissent against Egypt’s now-toppled Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, will hold two demonstrations, one on Monday and another on Friday, along with other political forces.
Tamarrod (Rebel) which organized last month’s mass demonstrations that resulted in the army’s ouster of democratically-elected President Mohamed Morsi will also join the protests.
The demonstrations’ purpose is to stress on the goals of the uprising and support a roadmap supported by the country’s army.
Friday’s demonstration will be held under the slogan “Friday of victory and crossing,” the NSF said in a statement on Sunday.
The Front insisted on its keenness to stay active and progress for the people and the revolution’s goals.
Security checkpoint attacked with gunfire in Sinai
Unknown armed assailants opened fire on a security checkpoint in Arish’s Sheikh Zuweid neighborhood in the Sinai Peninsula on Sunday.
The assailants exchanged fire with the security forces, but no injuries were reported in the attack, reported the state news agency MENA.
The same checkpoint, which guards the electricity station that provides power to the Gaza Strip, was also attacked on Friday.
Sinai has become increasingly lawless under the reign of former Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi.
Egypt demolishes 805 tunnels to smuggle fuel to Gaza
The Egyptian army targeted on Sunday a number of tunnels on the Rafah border in the Sinai Peninsula which were used to smuggle fuel to Gaza.
Army sources said that 80 percent of all tunnels have been demolished, amounting to about 805 tunnels.
The sources added that bulldozers were used to remove several machines dedicated to pumping fuel into the Gaza Strip through the tunnels.
They noted that the army’s efforts to demolish all smuggling tunnels are ongoing.
The announcement came only several days after former Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, was deposed.
