CAIRO: Uncertainty, election results and a potential military coup dominated Egypt's week. Protesters returned en masse to Tahrir Square to show their frustration with the ruling military council, while the Muslim Brotherhood pushed on with their claims they are victorious in the presidential run-off that took place June 16-17. Here are the top stories from Egypt this week: June 17 Egypt votes in final round of presidential run-off As reports of election violations begin to come in, Egyptians continued on Sunday to head to the polls to vote for the country's first post-uprising president. Voter turn-out appears to be low, although the campaign of the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi said their numbers point to a higher turn-out than in the first round of voting in late May. Second round of Egypt elections continues as military consolidates power As the second round of elections continues in Egypt, the ruling military council is prepared capitalize on the recent rulings of the Supreme Constitutional Court to stay in control of legislation, state budget and Egyptians' everyday lives. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) had in January transferred legislative power to the parliament. However, last Thursday, the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled the Islamist-led lower house of parliament invalid, dissolving the institution. Using this decision as a pretext, the military declared that it will amend article 56 of the constitutional declaration, handing legislative powers and state budget to the SCAF. SPECIAL REPORT: For Egypt's middle-class, voting is close to heart The money goes into the till, fingers prod for a few coins and are handed back to the customer with pace most would find astonishing, in Egypt or abroad. Here in this middle-class cafe in Cairo, efficiency is key to success. This is also why the workers at this cafe find the entire democratic meandering in Egypt recently frustrating, even angering. June 18 Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood candidate claims victory Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi has claimed victory in the country's first post-uprising presidential election. Morsi's victory will see Egypt have its first civilian president in more than 60 years, since a 1952 military coup ousted the King. US Embassy in Egypt warns citizens over bottled water American citizens living in Egypt were warned by the United States Embassy in the country from a number of bottled water companies. The statement from the embassy said that recent tests on at least 7 companies' bottled water revealed “pollutants" in the water. Egypt's SCAF new constitutional declaration receives negative response Anger and rejection in Egypt followed the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) new constitutional declaration, in which it granted itself back legislative power after the Egyptian parliament is expected to be dissolved. The Supreme Constitutional Court ruled last Thursday that one-third of parliament seats are void, as they had been reserved for independent candidates, but saw party affiliates win. June 19 Egypt activists to protest “military coup” in Tahrir Egyptian protesters will gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Tuesday afternoon to protest the new constitutional amendments carried out by the ruling military council that increases its powers in the country following the possibly dissolved Egypt's parliament. The April 6 Youth Movement announced they are taking part and mobilizing the protest against what many activists saw as a “military coup." See our complete coverage of events in Tahrir Square, including videos SPECIAL REPORT: Egyptian-Americans feel threatened by Morsi victory Egyptian-Americans in New York City were scandalized by the outcome of Egypt's presidential election, where the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, Mohammed Morsi, claimed his victory. “Morsi's victory is bad news for me," Egyptian born Amani Hassan, an Arabic professor at New York University, born in Cairo and living in the United States for 20 years, said. Egypt's Shafiq claims presidential victory Egypt presidential finalist and military strongman Ahmed Shafiq's campaign announced him the victor in the country's election run-off with a 51 percent. It came a day after Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi's campaign said he would be the winner with around 52 percent of the vote. The campaign held a press conference on Tuesday asking their supporters to “feel happy and celebrate" their candidate's win. June 20 Carter Center says can't say if Egypt elections fair American election monitoring organization The Carter Center on Tuesday could not say whether Egypt's recent presidential election was free and fair. The group, which had been in Egypt observing the voting process, said in a statement that they did not have enough access to polling station and voters. They also accused the military junta in the country of being a force against the transition to democracy in Egypt. Egypt elections results could be delayed, adding to tension Results in Egypt's presidential run-off, completed on Sunday, could be delayed as the election committee responsible for counting the ballots said they were reviewing appeals by both candidates. Both candidates, Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi and military strongman and former President Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister Ahmed Shafiq, have claimed victory in the election. June 21 In Egypt, Tahrir Square becomes sexual violence hotspot Meandering through the masses on Tuesday and Wednesday, hands were out and about, grabbing and groping women with impunity, Egyptian and foreign women have told Bikyamasr.com in the latest sexual violence craze to hit the country. “I was pushing through and as the men were praying in the square, I had my butt and chest grabbed repeatedly by people," said one Egyptian woman, who asked that her identity not be revealed. She told Bikyamasr.com that “I was in shock, because the Islamists were in the square, but I guess it doesn't matter who is protesting, women will be attacked." Egypt shows determination against military rule Tens of thousands of Egyptians, predominantly Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate Mohamed Morsi supporters, flocked to central Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday evening to continue to pressure the military junta to step down from power. They showed determination and many have vowed to remain in the square until the current political impasse has abated and the country is firmly in the hands of a civilian government. Egypt says gay people are not “real people” An Egyptian delegation at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday has urged the body to focus its efforts on “real people"who need assistance in questioning the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. “Finally, concerning the highly controversial notion of sexual orientation, we can only reiterate that it is not part of the universally recognized human rights," said the Egyptian delegation at the UN Human Rights Council. June 22 Over 100,000 protest Egypt's army “coup” in Tahrir Square Over 100,000 Egyptians have descended on Cairo's Tahrir Square to protest against the country's military and what many activists are calling a “coup" after the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) took complete control of the country last week in a series of moves. The spirit in the square has “returned to the 18 days," said Marwan Ibrahim, a young activist and member of the April 6 Youth Movement, who was protesting in Tahrir on Friday. Egypt's military lashes back, defends constitutional amendments Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) said the Muslim Brotherhood's premature announcement of the victory of their candidate Mohamed Morsi has caused political confusion and is to blame for the political instability in the country. “Prematurely announcing the results of the elections is the reason behind the political confusion we are going through," the statement accused of the FJP party, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, in being behind the recent unrest in the country. SPECIAL: What about women's rights in Egypt? Egypt is in full protest mode once again. Tens of thousands are packing Cairo's Tahrir Square to once more demand an end to the military control over the country. As anger and uncertainty reign in the country, women remain on the outside looking in, fearful of heading down to the square to show their support. The reason is simple: they are attacked, assaulted, groped and harassed throughout the square. In early June, an anti-sexual harassment protest was held in the square after more reports of sexual violence against women were reported. That protest was attacked by angry men. It was yet another dark stain on the future of Egypt, with women again being attacked for their desire to protest and make claim to the future of their country.
