CAIRO: An Egyptian court acquitted five police officers of killing protesters during the 18 days of protests that eventually ousted former President Hosni Mubarak on February 11, state television reported. The announcement was met with widespread anger from activists who have long demanded justice against the police for shooting and killing protesters during the January and February uprising. “It is another setback in our struggle to have our families receive justice for those who killed Egyptian citizens,” said Mohamed Radwan, the brother of a protester who was shot dead by police on February 2 of this year. “This just shows we have returned to life under dictatorship,” he told Bikyamasr.com. Explaining its ruling, the court said that the policemen had acted in self-defence after they were attacked on January 28 in Cairo's working-class district of al-Sayeda Zeinab, the television said. Angry relatives of the victims tried to attack the judges after the ruling but they were stopped by guards, witnesses were reported telling dpa. The ruling comes a day after Mubarak, a former interior minister and 6 senior police officials appeared in court where they face charges of ordering the killing of around 1,000 protesters during the 18-day revolt. Anger continues to foment in Egypt ahead of the one-year anniversary of the 18 day uprising, with many activists already calling for a second revolution to oust the military junta, which installed itself in power following Mubarak's removal. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/qH3GZ Tags: Court, featured, Jan25, Police, Protests, SCAF Section: Egypt, Human Rights, Latest News
