A new beginning
Cairo expects the capture of Saddam to accelerate the pace of the power handover to the Iraqis and pave the way for a constructive peace process, writes Nevine Khalil

Jumbled reactions
The US capture of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein has elicited mixed feelings and speculation on the streets of Cairo. Gihan Shahine gauges the public's mood

By-election legal quagmire
Last week's judicial ruling limiting the 25 December by-elections in 17 districts to candidates who ran in the original contests seems to have entered an infinite legal loop. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

A rickety bridge?
Egyptian and international anti-war activists concluded the Second Cairo Conference this week. Amira Howeidy tries to see beyond the spectacular chaos

Have cause, will travel
You don't need a war to be anti-war, say international activists. Nyier Abdou looks at the lessons of the Cairo Conference, one year on

Bridging the gender gap?
Launching two human development-related reports, Mrs Suzanne Mubarak promised commitment to promote gender equality. Dina Ezzat reports

Long way to go
Human rights organisations had little to celebrate on this year's Human Rights Day, writes Mariz Tadros

Honouring a pioneer
The late Fathi Naguib, chief justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court, was commemorated by a coalition of 12 Egyptian non-governmental organisations last week. Amira El-Noshokaty reports

Trying to tackle Ramses
Ramses Square has been chaotic for as long as most people can remember. Last week it suddenly became traffic-free. Will the calm last, wonders Reem Nafie

Newsreel
Eleven tourists were injured on Tuesday when a tour bus overturned on a road in the southern Sinai Peninsula...