ALEXANDRIA - Some Egyptian political opposition groups will hold Friday a public conference and demonstration marking the 40th day since the death of an Egyptian blogger who was allegedly beaten to death by police in the coastal city of Alexandria last month. "The conference and the demonstration will be dedicated to marking the death of Khaled Saeed. It will be held in Alexandria after the Friday congregational prayers. However, signatures will be collected in support of constitutional changes and reform," said Safwan Mohamed, the co-ordinator of the National Coalition for Change in Alexandria. He added that the gathering would comprise senior members of the coalition, the April 6 movement, the banned Muslim Brotherhood, and the Kefaya opposition group. "Representatives of the el-Ghad, el-Karama and el-Gabaha parties will also participate in the conference and the demonstration," Mohamed said. The Muslim Brotherhood, meanwhile, called on the people of Alexandria and other governorates to sign a document seeking reform prepared by Mohamed ElBaradei, the former chief of the UN nuclear watchdog. The Public Prosecutor has referred to trial two police officers alleged to have beaten Saeed and illegally arresting him. However, they are not charged with his death, which was blamed on his swallowing a packet of drugs. Human rights groups organised a number of demonstrations in both Cairo and Alexandria last month to protest alleged police brutality. Graphic photos of Saeed, showing his bruised and battered body, have been posted on many Egyptian websites. ElBaradei attended the demonstration, lending support to the protest.
