A leading Socialist Popular Alliance Party member was detained pending investigation Saturday on suspicion of killing Shaimaa El-Sabagh, another leading party member who had been shot during a protest in Cairo a week ago. Zohdi El-Shamy was considered a witness until the prosecution charged him with killing El-Sabagh after questioning him and watching videos that were shot before and after she was killed, Al-Ahram Arabic site reported. El-Shamy will be detained until investigations into his charge are complete on Sunday. Prosecutors will then decide whether to release or keep him in detention. In a press conference right after her death, the Socialist Popular Alliance Party accused the police of shooting dead El-Sabagh, describing the incident as a "premeditated murder." The victim was taking part in a protest march consisting of tens that was heading to Tahrir Square. The demonstration, which was not authorized by the police as the protest law stipulates, was dispersed by the police who reportedly fired teargas and birdshot at marchers. The interior ministry denied that a policeman had shot her dead. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/121866.aspx
