CAIRO: Iran aims to resume relations with Egypt, a government spokesman told the Iranian students news agency Isna on Thursday. There is a lot of potential for the two countries to cooperate in regional and international affairs though Egyptian officials need to take practical steps to realize this aim and normalize relations, Isna quoted foreign …

CAIRO: President Hosni Mubarak warned that Iran’s continued attempts to develop military nuclear capabilities will have serious repercussions on the region. Mubarak’s comments came on the sidelines of his meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the resort town of Shaem El Sheikh on Thursday. The President hinted that Egypt might begin developing nuclear …

President Hosni Mubarak described the execution of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as barbaric, disgusting and illegal in an interview with Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot as reported by Al Ahram newspaper. Mubarak was quoted as saying “Carrying out the execution in Eid Al-Adha is a matter that is unreasonable and unacceptable . images of the …

CAIRO: In a move that has already caused uproar among religious scholars, the Al Azhar Institution has declared the Dar Al Ifta (fatwa body) the only legally recognized organization authorized with issuing religious edicts. Sheikh Mahmoud Ashour, former deputy for Al-Azhar and member of the Islamic Research Center told The Daily Star Egypt: “we had …

RAMALLAH: At least four Palestinians were killed Thursday in a major Israel army operation in the West Bank city of Ramallah that wounded more than 20 other people, medics said. Yussef Abdel Khader, 23, Khalil al-Badawi, 20, Ala al-Himran in his 20s, and Jamal Jawela, 29, were mortally wounded in gunfire that erupted after more …

CAIRO: A smuggling tunnel under the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt collapsed Thursday morning, Palestinian security officials told the Associated Press. The report came hours before Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrived in Egypt for meetings with President Hosni Mubarak. Although there has been widespread speculation among political analysts and Israeli and Egyptian …

CAIRO: Applications of 13 new political parties will be presented Jan. 6 at Cairo’s Supreme Administrative Court after being rejected by the political parties committee. In Egypt no party can be legally established without the approval of the political parties committee of the Shoura Council – the upper house of parliament. According to Nabil Abdel …

CAIRO: Egyptian police arrested 20 members of the Muslim Brotherhood for membership of a banned organization Tuesday, a security source said, in the latest crackdown on the leading opposition group. The activists were detained in dawn raids on their homes in three provinces in the Nile Delta for membership of the banned Brotherhood and possession …

Associated Press BAGHDAD: The person believed to have recorded Saddam Hussein s execution on a cell phone camera was arrested Wednesday, an adviser to Iraq s prime minister said. The adviser to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, did not identify the …

CAIRO: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert meets President Hosni Mubarak today as Egypt attempts to reach a successful resolution in the prisoner exchange negotiations between Hamas and the Israeli government. “Olmert is coming to discuss prisoner exchange. We are hosting him to lift the suffering off the Palestinian people and see him deliver on his …

CAIRO: Mahmoud Ezzat, Secretary-General of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), has denied reports that the banned, but tolerated Islamist group convened to establish an official political following President Mubarak’s announced plans to amend the constitution. As far as I know no such meeting took place and no action or decisions were taken concerning Al-Azhar University [demonstrations] …

No progress has been made in talks to free an Israeli soldier held captive by Palestinian fighters in Gaza, an Israeli government official said on Monday, denying Hamas assertions of a breakthrough. Palestinian armed factions have demanded Israel release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Corporal Gilad Shalit, abducted in June by gunmen …

Associated Press JERUSALEM: Israeli officials on Monday denied claims that they were close to a deal that would secure the release of a captured soldier held by Palestinian militants, citing excessive demands by the Islamic Hamas. Expectations have been building in the media that an announcement could be made at an Israel-Egypt summit on Thursday, …

CAIRO: Saddam Hussein has always been a controversial figure but ironically, his execution may create even greater contention. He was praised by the several US administrations in the beginnings of his reign, then vilified as a ruthless madman, respected by some Arab allies and hated by others, and then finally in his final years mocked …

CAIRO: President Hosni Mubarak suggested 34 constitutional amendments, but they are not enough or are useless, analysts say. The president’s speech on Tuesday Dec. 26, triggered a deluge of talk shows and newspaper articles discussing his suggestions. Naming a potential vice president and Article 93 topped concerns at the continuous analyses. The president did not …

CAIRO: The banned-but-tolerated Muslim Brotherhoods (MB) group stated in a press conference Wednesday afternoon that they intended to establish a licensed political party. During the same event, MB members promised to obstruct the pending constitutional amendments and do their best to prevent them from going into effect in every possible legal way in the People’s …

CAIRO: The constitutional and legislative committee in the Shura Council started discussing President Hosni Mubarak s suggested amendments to the constitution, amid concerns that the changes would negatively affect political participation and election integrity. The discussions that started on Wednesday, a day after Mubarak presented his suggestions, are to end on Jan. 9, to be …

CAIRO: A senior Egyptian diplomatic source denied an Israeli newspaper report that his country had recently shipped arms to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Fatah party. The paper said the shipment was approved by Israel and sent through Israeli territory in four trucks accompanied by a military police escort, the officials said, speaking …

CAIRO: Women in Egypt have pursued professions as doctors, parliamentarians, and ministers, but until recently, they could not fill any senior judicial posts. That is all about to change. The Higher Judicial Council has initially approved a letter sent by the Minister of Justice Mamdouh Maraey requesting that women be allowed to assume posts as …

Some call Bush a terrorist CAIRO: The decision of an Iraqi court to uphold the death sentence given to former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein opened the door to many discussions about Iraq among Cairenes with many expressing concern for the deteriorating situation in the war-ravaged Arab country. Opinions were framed around the dire situation in …

Abul Gheit responds to Iranian statements but also criticizes Western nations over Israel s nuke program CAIRO: With Iran looking to develop nuclear technology, Israel almost admitting it possesses nuclear weapons, and the Gulf nations look to develop a nuclear program, albeit a peaceful one, there are concerns that the Middle East is at the …

CAIRO: Blogger arrested for spreading malicious rumors , “Rights groups say government is limiting Internet freedom , and Activists argue deteriorating state of civil society in Arab nations . Headlines like the above have become common features in both national and international mass-media. 2006 has arguably witnessed enhanced intimidation of civil society activists in Egypt …

CAIRO: Egyptian human rights organizations called for the prosecution of a group of police officers who allegedly videotaped the sexual abuse of a microbus driver and circulated the video among local bus drivers. The video, which was circulated on Internet blogs, showed Imad Al-Kabir, an Egyptian microbus driver, lying on the floor naked from the …

JERUSALEM: The Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants last June is still alive, the visiting Egyptian foreign minister, Ahmed Abul Gheit, said Wednesday. Abul Gheit said Egypt is working to win the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was captured last June by Gaza militants who tunneled into Israel and fled back to Gaza. Shalit …

CAIRO: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Sharm El Sheikh next week an Israeli official told the press Tuesday. Mubarak and Olmert are expected to hold talks on the Palestinian-Israeli issue and explore ways to push the process forward The exact date of Olmert’s visit will be decided …

French and British failure signaled the end of colonialism CAIRO: The repercussions of the 1956 Suez War, known as the Tripartite Aggression, transgressed local and regional levels to have a worldwide impact, an expert told The Daily Star Egypt. “The effects of the Suez war overcame local and regional levels, and it cemented the legitimacy …

CAIRO: Terrorism is a red line that I will not allow anyone to cross, said President Hosni Mubarak in a speech to announcing the pending constitutional amendments Tuesday. The President promised to eliminate the 25-year state of emergency once a new anti-terrorism law is passed. The proposed anti-terrorism law, like the rest of the draft …

Cairo: The recent government crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood is an attempt to distract public opinion from proper constitutional reform, Gamal Nassar, media advisor to the Muslim Brotherhood’s (MB) Supreme Guide, told The Daily Star Egypt. Nassar said: “Constitutional reforms are coming, and the regime is trying to use the MB to distract people in …

CAIRO: Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit met with Chadian counterpart Ahmat Allami Saturday to discuss the Darfur crisis’ growing regional implications. Thousands of Sudanese refugees have fled to Chad to escape the decimated region, but the fighting has followed them into Chad where janjaweed fighters have reportedly conducted raids against them and Chadian civilians. …