Egypt Democracy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US was not about leveraging India to be a "counterweight" to China but to deepen ties, including defence cooperation, between the largest democracies of the world, a top White House official has said.

Egyptians turned out in low numbers today to vote in the first phase of an election hailed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as a milestone on the road to democracy but shunned by critics who say the new chamber will rubber stamp his decisions.

Egypt will hold a long-awaited parliamentary election in two phases starting Oct. 18-19, the election commission said on Sunday, the final step of a roadmap to democracy that critics say has been tainted by a crackdown on dissent.

Tunisians elected a new parliament on Sunday bringing full democracy within their reach almost four years after an uprising cast out autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali and inspired the "Arab Spring" revolts.

US Secretary of State John Kerry pressed Egypt's leaders on Sunday to allow greater political freedoms, but assured Cairo during a surprise visit that it will soon receive 10 Apache helicopters.

Former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to emerge from a second and final day of voting on Tuesday as Egypt's next head of state, returning the presidency to a military man as hopes for democracy fade three years after Hosni Mubarak's downfall.

Egyptians should not expect instant democracy or rapid economic reforms, but should pull together for shared sacrifice

The United States said on Wednesday it would withhold deliveries of tanks, fighter aircraft, helicopters and missiles as well as $260 million in cash aid from Egypt's military-backed government pending progress on democracy and human rights.

Supporters of deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi prepared for confrontation on Friday, and the United States said Egypt's military had been "restoring democracy" when it drove him from office.

An Egyptian court convicted 43 Americans, Europeans, Egyptians and other Arabs on Tuesday in a case against democracy promotion groups that plunged U.S.-Egyptian ties into their worst crisis in decades.

Top opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei called on Saturday for a boycott of Egypt's upcoming parliamentary elections, likening the poll to the "sham democracy" of ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

Prominent Egyptian democracy advocate Mohammed ElBaradei warned Saturday of increasing turmoil that could potentially lead to the military stepping in unless the Islamist president rescinds his new, near absolute powers, as the country's long fragmented opposition sought to unite and rally new protests.

The Muslim Brotherhood declared early Monday that its candidate, Mohammed Morsi, won Egypt's presidential election, which would be the first victory of an Islamist as head of state in the stunning wave of protests demanding democracy that swept the Middle East the past year. But the military handed itself the lion's share power over the new preside...

Dozens of democracy activists including Americans go on trial in Egypt on Sunday on charges of receiving illegal funding, despite pleas from Washington that the charges be dropped.

Three American democracy advocates barred by Egyptian authorities from leaving the country have sought refuge at the US Embassy in Cairo, officials said on Monday, as tensions between the two allied nations sharply escalated over a probe into foreign-funded organizations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US was not about leveraging India to be a "counterweight" to China but to deepen ties, including defence cooperation, between the largest democracies of the world, a top White House official has said.

Egyptians turned out in low numbers today to vote in the first phase of an election hailed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as a milestone on the road to democracy but shunned by critics who say the new chamber will rubber stamp his decisions.

Egypt will hold a long-awaited parliamentary election in two phases starting Oct. 18-19, the election commission said on Sunday, the final step of a roadmap to democracy that critics say has been tainted by a crackdown on dissent.

Tunisians elected a new parliament on Sunday bringing full democracy within their reach almost four years after an uprising cast out autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali and inspired the "Arab Spring" revolts.

US Secretary of State John Kerry pressed Egypt's leaders on Sunday to allow greater political freedoms, but assured Cairo during a surprise visit that it will soon receive 10 Apache helicopters.

Former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to emerge from a second and final day of voting on Tuesday as Egypt's next head of state, returning the presidency to a military man as hopes for democracy fade three years after Hosni Mubarak's downfall.

Egyptians should not expect instant democracy or rapid economic reforms, but should pull together for shared sacrifice

The United States said on Wednesday it would withhold deliveries of tanks, fighter aircraft, helicopters and missiles as well as $260 million in cash aid from Egypt's military-backed government pending progress on democracy and human rights.

Supporters of deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi prepared for confrontation on Friday, and the United States said Egypt's military had been "restoring democracy" when it drove him from office.

An Egyptian court convicted 43 Americans, Europeans, Egyptians and other Arabs on Tuesday in a case against democracy promotion groups that plunged U.S.-Egyptian ties into their worst crisis in decades.

Top opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei called on Saturday for a boycott of Egypt's upcoming parliamentary elections, likening the poll to the "sham democracy" of ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

Prominent Egyptian democracy advocate Mohammed ElBaradei warned Saturday of increasing turmoil that could potentially lead to the military stepping in unless the Islamist president rescinds his new, near absolute powers, as the country's long fragmented opposition sought to unite and rally new protests.

The Muslim Brotherhood declared early Monday that its candidate, Mohammed Morsi, won Egypt's presidential election, which would be the first victory of an Islamist as head of state in the stunning wave of protests demanding democracy that swept the Middle East the past year. But the military handed itself the lion's share power over the new preside...

Dozens of democracy activists including Americans go on trial in Egypt on Sunday on charges of receiving illegal funding, despite pleas from Washington that the charges be dropped.

Three American democracy advocates barred by Egyptian authorities from leaving the country have sought refuge at the US Embassy in Cairo, officials said on Monday, as tensions between the two allied nations sharply escalated over a probe into foreign-funded organizations.