An Egyptian appeal court on Sunday reduced the sentences of 23 pro-democracy activists to two years in jail for violating a law banning protests without a permit and assaulting security forces, a judicial source has said. The defendants, who include activist Sanaa Seif, sister of prominent activist and blogger Alaa Abdel-Fattah and rights lawyer Yara Sallam, were originally sentenced to three years last October over their role in a demonstration on 21 June against the widely criticised protest law. The court has also fined the convicted LE10,000 (approximately $1,390) each and ordered them to be placed under police surveillance for two years after serving jail time, the source added. Among other accusations, the defendants were charged with stirring chaos, damaging public property, assaulting policemen and using violence "with the aim of terrorising citizens." The sentence can still be appealed before the Court of Cassation, the country's highest legal authority. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/118996.aspx