FJP looking for leader THE FREEDOM and Justice Party (FJP), the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, called for an extraordinary meeting on Friday 19 October at 1pm to elect a chairman for the party after the resignation of the party's head Mohamed Mursi, who left the post when he became president of Egypt. If there is no quorum, a second meeting is to be held two hours later. Three senior members of the FJP -- Saad El-Katatni, Essam El-Erian and Mohamed Abu Baraka -- have announced their intention to run for the party's chairmanship. Hussein Ibrahim, head of the committee supervising the FJP elections, declared Monday 8 October as the first of a three-day period for officials to announce their candidacy. Ibrahim said those who wish to run should head for the FJP's downtown Mansour Street headquarters to fill out a form, according to the FJP website. Appeals and complaints, if any, will be looked into during those three days. Nasserist merger FOUR Nasserist parties have officially declared that they will merge into a group called the Nasserist Party. During a meeting held late last week the agreement to unite forces was signed by the head of the Arab Democratic Nasserist Party Sameh Ashour, head of the Karama Party Mohamed Sami, head of the National Conciliation Party Mahmoud Refaat, and head of the Popular Congress Nasserist Party Salah Al-Desouki. Abdel-Hakim Abdel-Nasser, son of former president Gamal Abdel-Nasser, read out the party's statement in a ceremony held in front of his father's grave on the anniversary of his death, 28 September. The party held a press conference at the Press Syndicate on the same day. Mohamed Suleiman, a member of the Karama Party's political bureau, said the statement emphasised Nasserist unity and was intended to put an end to ongoing conflicts between the leaders of the Nasserist groups. Abdel-Nasser stated that the merger was part of the Nasserist commitment to Nasser's legacy. He added that the Nasserists in Egypt continue to consider Zionists to be enemies who should be fought, and to work on preserving the rights of Palestinians so as to fight American hegemony in the region. Journalists on strike JOURNALISTS from seven state-owned and opposition party newspapers and magazines went on strike at the Press Syndicate to demand the Shura Council and the government meet their financial demands and to re-employ them in other state-run newspapers. The journalists from Al-Shaab, Al-Watany Al-Youm, Al-Ahrar, Al-Araby Al-Nassery and Al-Ghad demanded from the Shura Council, or Upper House of parliament, and Higher Press Council to relocate them in state newspapers after their papers were shut down. Reporters at Al-Shaab have protested at the halt of the paper's operations and failure to disburse salaries. They said in a statement that there was no apparent reason for the recent closure of the paper. The reporters demanded that the syndicate defend their rights, and threatened to proceed with the sit-in until salaries were paid out and the newspaper reopened. Radio and Television magazine which is owned by the Ministry of Information also staged a strike at its headquarters after the administration cut half the salaries of its journalists. The protesters argue that, "this is a step to fire us and shut down the magazine. It is clear that the minister of information plans to shut down the paper." They added that there were 30 freelancers who had not received their salaries for the past three months. Reporters from the liberal Wafd Party's mouthpiece paper said they would stage an open-ended sit-in in response to the administration's refusal to reinstate former chief editor Adel Sabri and its failure to give freelance reporters contracts. Paper for the president UNDER the name Egypt's Women's Day, numerous civil society and women's rights organisations and political parties will hold a peaceful protest Thursday 4 October. The protest will be held in front the Federal Palace (Qasr Al-Ittihadiya) however the gathering point will be in front of Heliopolis club at 5pm. The aim is to submit a document to President Mohamed Mursi that includes the constitutional demands of Egyptian women, including legislating an anti-sexual harassment bill. "These acts have been increasing, and we need a bill to criminalise sexual harassment which reflects a serious society phenomenon, especially that children are now engaging in these acts," explained Ghada Gabr, one of the organisers. The protesters intend to form a human chain that will extend from Heliopolis club, along the metro lines till the intersection of Salah Salem and Mirghani streets. The organisations that signed the protest statement include the National Front for Women of Egypt -- which has 15 parties -- and the Association of Egyptian Women Writers. A few political parties taking part will be the Dostour Party, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and the People's Coalition Party.
