Ruling NDP leaders early month rejected press speculation on possible early parliamentary elections in 2010 to secure succession of President Mubarak. 25 arrested 9 July for membership of Gaza-linked al-Qaeda cell plotting attacks on Suez Canal. Prosecutor 26 July said 26 members of “Hizbollah cell” arrested May to be tried by emergency security court. Muslim rioters 1 July burnt Coptic Christian homes in Mansoura following killing of Muslim teenager.

U.S. President Barack Obama gave 4 June speech at Cairo University addressing Muslim world, calling for new beginning in U.S.-Muslim relations. Speech well received by many in audience; some opposition groups, including banned Muslim Brotherhood (MB), more cautious in response. 7 MB members arrested 28 June, including senior figures; release of 13 detained MB members ordered by court 28 June. Deal signed 23 June with visiting Russian President Medvedev on strategic cooperation in defence, trade and energy, including nuclear. Mob attacked Coptic church in village south of Cairo 21 June.

33 members of Muslim Brotherhood (MB) arrested 14-15 May, on charges including establishing cells abroad. 7 members of alleged al-Qaeda-linked cell responsible for Feb Cairo bombing targeting tourists arrested 23 May; authorities said cell included foreign nationals, claimed link to Gaza. Prominent dissident Ayman Nour burnt by unknown attacker 24 May. Court 25 May overturned jail sentence against exiled opposition academic Saad Eddin Ibrahim. U.S. President Obama 8 May announced intention to deliver speech in Cairo in June.

Authorities 8 Apr claimed discovery of 49-member Hizbollah cell allegedly planning hostile operations, espionage inside Egypt; 21 suspects arrested in preceding months. Officials, press denounced threat to national security, Iranian interference. Hizbollah leader Nasrallah 10 Apr denied organisation planning attacks in Egypt, stated one of suspects Hizbollah member delivering arms to Palestinians in Gaza. Muslim Brotherhood (MB) leadership announced backing for Hizbollah position 22 Apr, but Brotherhood MPs condemned breach of Egypt’s sovereignty. 17 MB members arrested in Fayyum 16 Apr, following clashes between students and police. 25 detained at 4 Apr protest against arrest of anti-govt activists.

Govt official mediated between Hamas and Israel, hosted reconciliation talks between Palestinian factions during month (see Israel/OPT). Rafah crossing to Gaza Strip opened 18-20 March for students and medical cases. 29 members of banned Muslim Brotherhood arrested across country 3 March. Brotherhood leader Muhammad Mahdi Akef 26 March announced would step down end 2009.

Bomb attack in historic Cairo area 22 Feb killed 1 tourist, injured at least 20; authorities held 3, blamed isolated Islamist cell. Ayman Nour, opposition challenger to President Mubarak in 2005 election, released 18 Feb after 3 years in prison. At least 40 members of Muslim Brotherhood detained during Cairo rally in solidarity with Gaza Palestinians 6 Feb. Border with Gaza re-sealed 5 Feb; Hamas official prevented from entering with over US $9m cash. Border guard killed by suspected human trafficking at Gaza border 6 Feb.

Mubarak govt faced widespread anger at home and in Arab world at perceived inaction over Israel’s Gaza offensive (see Israel/OPT), particularly over failure to open Rafah border with Gaza except for severely wounded, some humanitarian supplies. Protests over Gaza crisis continued, with 50,000 reported at 9 Jan Alexandria demonstration led by opposition Muslim Brotherhood (MB); heavy security presence in Cairo prevented large rallies in capital. Over 860 MB members arrested throughout month, including at least 350 following 18 Jan Cairo protest.

3 senior MB members charged 17 Dec for forming “jihad group” over pro-Gaza activity and links to Hamas, in move condemned by MB leadership as effort to undermine public sympathy with blockaded Gaza strip. Security Court sentenced 22 for involvement in violent Apr riots in Mahalla el-Kubra sparked by steep food price hikes. Over 50,000 demonstrated across Egypt over Israeli airstrike on Gaza, urging govt to open Rafah crossing: some 40 MB members, at least 1 journalist arrested; clash between Hamas supporters and Egyptian border guards left 2 dead (see Israel/OPT). President Mubarak late month rejected calls to open Rafah crossing. African migrant seeking to cross Israel border shot dead by police early month.

Tensions in Sinai peninsula increased with wave of early Nov protests by Bedouin minority against police treatment and marginalization by govt, triggered by Oct arrests of members suspected of smuggling through Gaza tunnel: violence left 3 dead, 30 injured; 25 police briefly kidnapped. Human Rights Watch 13 Nov condemned Egypt’s “shoot-to- kill” policy at Gaza border; 1 migrant killed 24 Nov in 27th death this year. Police 29 Nov arrested further 28 members of illegal opposition group Muslim Brotherhood in coastal town Marsa Matrouh, reportedly bringing number detained to 171.

Further 32 members of banned Muslim Brotherhood arrested 22 Oct over participation in protests against Gaza blockade. Signs of continuing Muslim and Coptic Christian tensions: 1 killed and 15 arrested in 3-4 Oct violent clashes in Al-Tayeba. Muslim man killed in attack on Cairo home allegedly by Christian relatives of wife, who had converted to Islam. UN reported some 40 killed over 2008 in smuggling tunnels between Gaza and Egypt.