CAIRO: Egypt's army acquitted two activists who were charged with insulting the military and inciting violence, the armed forces said on Thursday, following criticism from rights groups of subjecting civilians to military trials. Military prosecutors had questioned Asmaa Mahfouz of the April 6 Movement and referred her to a military court after she allegedly called military generals a "council of dogs". She warned that armed groups could arise if the judiciary failed to deliver justice swiftly to those on trial for corruption. Louai Nagati, another activist, was arrested for disturbing public order during protests in late July. He was also ordered to face trial in a military court. "The head of the military council pardoned and withdrawn charges against Asmaa Mahfouz and Louai Nagati," the armed forces said in a statement on its Facebook page. It added that Egyptian intellectuals meeting with a general said public opinion was increasingly against trying youth in military courts for voicing their opinions, prompting Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi to pardon the activists. The statement said the military council urged youths, intellectuals and media to "express their opinions and positions in a responsible manner without abuse or insult." Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch had urged Egypt's military council to drop charges against the activists, saying that top generals were trying to silence critics. The army took control of the country after an 18-day uprising that ousted former president Hosni Mubarak. The military council pledged to lead the country towards democratic civilian rule, but political and youth groups have accused it of trying to stifle dissent using Mubarak-era tactics. Since January, at least 10,000 civilians have been sentenced by military courts, said Human Rights Watch.
