Leading activists released on bail in Egypt

An Egyptian court today ordered the release of two prominent activists on trial for organising an illegal protest after they spent nearly four months in jail.
Alaa Abdel-Fattah and Ahmed Abdel-Rahman were ordered to be released on bail of USD 1500 each by a court here.
Abdel-Fattah, a prominent blogger and a leading figure in the 2011 uprising against longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak, and Abdel-Rahman were detained in November last year for allegedly organising a protest without permission and assaulting police.
They have persistently demanded their release during court proceedings.
Only 13 of the 25 defendants in the case attended the proceedings today. All other defendants have been released on bail.

The defendants are charged with offences related to a protest against military trials of civilians outside the Shura Council in central Cairo in November last year.

It was one of the first protests dispersed by force in accordance with a controversial new protest law issued in the same month which criminalises unauthorised public demonstrations.
The No to Military Trials campaign group had claimed responsibility for organising the protest, but Abdel-Fattah was charged with being the protest organiser.
Abdel-Fattah was also charged with assaulting members of the security forces and stealing a police officer's two-way radio.
His detention has caused an uproar among rights groups.

The court adjourned the proceedings untill April 6.