Egypt's ruling military has inserted a new element of confusion even as Egypt tries to sort out turmoil surrounding its upcoming presidential elections. The generals now insist a new constitution be written before a new president is seated, a rushed timeframe that some fear may prolong their hold on power.

A member of the ruling military council on Tuesday rejected suggestions that military judiciary cases be transferred to civilian courts, describing the demand as an infringement on the jurisdiction of military courts.

Postponing the presidential election until the body writing the new constitution finishes its work is unacceptable under any circumstance, said presidential hopeful Hamdeen Sabbahi Tuesday.

Protesters on Monday called for the release of an activist they say has been kidnapped by the police. Around 40 people gathered on the steps of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and chanted against the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the Interior Ministry, who they allege kidnapped activist Mohamed Fahmy.

At 10am, the Egyptian zoo in Giza – one of the most popular venues for Sham El-Nasim celebrations – was already packed. Lines of visitors stood waiting to buy tickets, chatting happily with one another as they awaited their turn to enter the garden.

Presidential hopeful Amr Moussa warned Sunday against prolonging an interim period that he said was marked by confused choices. He emphasized the need to conduct the presidential election as scheduled. On his Twitter account, the former Arab League secretary general said holding the election as scheduled for 23 and 24 May is vital. Failing to hold the election would have dangerous consequences, particularly from an economic viewpoint, he said.

Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and one-time presidential hopeful, has blasted recent calls by Hussein Tantawi, head of Egypt's ruling military council, to draft a new Egyptian constitution before presidential elections are held next month.

Egyptian finance officials are joining their global counterparts in Washington this week as they gather for the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

When Omar Suleiman, former spy chief and vice president under ousted President Hosni Mubarak, appeared for 30 seconds on 11 February 2011 to announce Mubarak’s resignation, many thought that it was the end of his career and an era. But just over a year later, his presidential campaign is making headlines and prompting outrage from the revolutionaries and Mubarak regime opponents who see it as a slap in the face.

The Revolutionary Youth Coalition (RYC) announced that they will join mass demonstrations initiated by April 6 Youth Movement on 20 April dubbing it "Self Determination Friday", in a press statement Thursday. The youth group added they will not be joining the Muslim Brotherhood protest which is set to take place a week before on 13 Friday.

Following a court ruling this week suspending the Constituent Assembly, the Freedom and Justice Party contacted those who had pulled out of the constitution-drafting body to discuss the creation of a new panel, according to Wahid Abdel Meguid, a former assembly member and the general coordinator of the FJP-led Democratic Alliance.

A controversial law on investment pushed through by the ruling military council in January is being used to reconcile a dispute between the state and private investors in the Misr Shebin El Kom Spinning and Weaving Company.

Presidential contender Abul-Ezz El-Hariri announced that he will file an appeal Wednesday to the Supreme Presidential Elections Commission (SPEC) to exclude Muslim Brotherhood's candidate Khairat El-Shater from running in the upcoming elections.

The Supreme Administrative Court on Tuesday suspended Egypt's Constituent Assembly – tasked with drafting a new national charter – after ruling in favour of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the 100-member assembly. The case has now been referred to the State Council, which has the authority to refer it to Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC).

Parliament has decided to convene on Wednesday to discuss the draft law that was submitted by MP Essam Sultan of the Wasat Party banning all those who worked under Mubarak in the last ten years of his rule in leadership positions or the dissolved National Democratic Party from assuming the office of president, vice president or prime minister for 10 years as of Mubarak’s resignation on 11 February 2011.

The April 6 Youth Movement on Tuesday called on all Egyptians citizens, parties and groups to take part in a mass demonstration on 20 April in Tahrir Square and other gathering places around Egypt in protest of "the consecutive crises" and the failing policies of the country's leadership.

The People’s Assembly on Tuesday approved in principle the amendment of certain provisions of the Code of Military Justice, abolishing Article 6 that gives the president the right to refer civilians to military tribunals if a state of emergency is declared.

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee of the People's Assembly agreed Tuesday to amend Article 20 of the law on presidential elections. The amendment cancels the campaign silence period of 48 hours before the voting. MP Sameh Makram said the campaign silence law was not enforced on the ground, so it is illogical to leave a law that is violated by the people.

The Supreme Administrative Court blocked Egypt's constituent assembly Tuesday after ruling in favour of a recent lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of the formation of the 100-member constituent assembly. The case was referred to the Commissioner's Office at State Council, which would then have the authority to move the lawsuit to Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC).

Presidential hopeful Omar Suleiman has in the last few days garnered wide support from citizens in the Upper Egyptian governorate of Qena, where he was born. Eyewitnesses told Egypt Independent that banners with the image of Suleiman have begun to be hung in various villages across the tribally dominated governorate.

A military source denied media and internet reports that Egypt's ruling generals denounced a draft amendment that would deny Mubarak regime figures the right to run the upcoming presidential election, state-run news agency MENA reported.