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Egyptian police beat pro reform protesters { May 18 2006 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/3873584.html http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/3873584.html May 18, 2006, 5:49PM Egyptian Police Beat Pro-Reform Protesters By MARIAM FAM Associated Press Writer © 2006 The Associated Press CAIRO, Egypt — Despite U.S. criticism, police beat pro-reform protesters in the streets and arrested more than 300 for the second week in a row Thursday as Egyptian courts dealt new setbacks to activists seeking greater democracy. While club-wielding police chased activists in downtown Cairo, a court rejected the appeal of prominent opposition leader Ayman Nour, the runner-up in last year's presidential elections. The ruling means Nour will have to serve a five-year prison sentence on forgery charges he says are intended to eliminate him from politics. The United States sharply criticized the ruling, saying it and the violence "raise serious concerns about the path to political reform in Egypt." "The Egyptian government's handling of (Nour's) case represents both a miscarriage of justice by international standards and a setback for the democratic aspirations of the Egyptian people," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. Also Thursday, another court issued a reprimand against Hesham el-Bastawisy, a judge on Egypt's highest court who went public with accusations of fraud during parliament elections monitored by judges in November and December. A second judge was cleared by the disciplinary court. The day's events were a new blow to already fading U.S. hopes that Egypt, a top ally, could be the centerpiece of America's push for greater democracy in the Middle East. For Egypt's reform movement, the violence and court rulings only fueled their belief President Hosni Mubarak had reneged on promises of democracy. "This is a punishment to every judge who has demanded free and fair elections," one pro-reform judge, Ahmed Mekky, said after the ruling on el-Bastawisi. The demand for an independent judiciary "has now become hard to realize contrary to all the political promises that were made," he said. The prosecution of Nour has strained relations with the United States in the past, and Washington called for his case to be reconsidered after he was convicted in December. U.S. officials also sharply criticized Egypt after police broke up similar protests last week in support of the judges, arresting more than 250 people. On Thursday, police in anti-riot gear cordoned off several streets in downtown Cairo leading to the building where the two court sessions were being held separately. Uniformed police and plainclothes security officers surged into groups of demonstrators, swinging batons. The activists _ who included members of the pro-reform Kifaya movement and the Muslim Brotherhood _ fled, some clambering over cars. Some regrouped nearby, shaking their fists and chanting, "We are the (Muslim) Brotherhood. God is great." About a dozen protesters took refuge on the balcony of an office of Nour's al-Ghad party, chanting, "Freedom for Ayman Nour" and "Down, down with Hosni Mubarak." The Interior Ministry said it detained 314 people _ most of them apparently Brotherhood members. But Brotherhood lawmaker Hamdi Hassan said police picked up 500 Brothers, including prominent members Essam el-Erian and Mohammed Morsi. Nour, 41, was convicted Dec. 24 and sentenced to five years in prison on charges of forging signatures on petitions to register al-Ghad as a party in 2004. The appeal court judge said the rejection of his appeal was final, and Nour's wife Gameela Ismail _ also a prominent figure in the al-Ghad party _ said there was no further legal recourse. "There is nothing we can do except to continue to struggle for reform," she told AP. This "reflects the Egyptian regime's persistent rejection of any serious reform and its exploitation of the international community's leniency with Egypt," al-Ghad Party chief Nagi el-Ghatrifi said after the verdict. The two reform judges, el-Bastawisi and Mahmoud Mekki, had become heroes of the reform movement after they blew the whistle on fraud during parliament elections in November and December. Activists have been outraged that the government put them before a disciplinary court rather than investigate the reports of fraud. Last year, Mubarak contested presidential elections on a platform promising political and constitutional reforms, including ending emergency laws that activists say are used to stifle opposition. Since then, emergency laws have been extended, municipality elections have been postponed apparently to prevent Brotherhood gains and hundreds of activists have been arrested. Egyptian officials deny the government is backpedalling on reforms and Mubarak has counseled patience, saying change takes time.

elections-2005 sharm-july-2005-blasts 3 arrests in egypt resort bombings { April 25 2006 } Blast in egypt israel border hotel Bomb kills tourists in egyptian market place Bomber in cairo was student acting alone { April 11 2005 } Bombs hit egypt on victory holiday over israel { March 2006 } Brotherhood protests french usage of suez { January 28 2006 } Cairo grappling with bread crisis { February 2008 } Crime in egypt Egypt blast at sanai kills 23 { March 2006 } Egypt mobarak tensions { March 24 2003 } Egypt nuclear { June 24 2002 } Egypt only allows islamist opposition { June 2 2006 } Egypt parliament votes to reduce civil liberties { February 2007 } Egypt rejects prisoner swap { November 27 2003 } Egypt releases muslim brotherhood after market bombing Egypt releases pro israel prisoner { March 19 2003 } Egypt revolt { August 28 2002 } Egyptian blogger jailed for insulting islam Egyptian government talks with muslim brotherhood Egyptian police anti war activists Egyptian police beat pro reform protesters { May 18 2006 } Egyptian police clash with resort bombers { February 5 2005 } Egyptian soldiers slaughtered sudanese refugees { December 30 2005 } Extremism rises among egypts poor bedouin { May 24 2006 } Israel says alqaeda is behind egypt resort attacks Londons muslim brotherhood { February 17 2006 } Market bomber not as disturbed as egypt painted { April 12 2005 } Mideast democracy conference derailed by egypt { November 13 2005 } Mubarak concerned over us push for middle east reform Mubarak egypt regime change { February 10 2003 } Mubarak orders democratic reforms in egypt { February 26 2005 } Muslim headdress restricted in egypt { June 19 2007 } New islamic militants arisen in egyptian peninsula { April 24 2006 } Poor communities of cairo care for themselves { March 1 2007 } Rice pushes egypt reform without mentioning brotherhood Thousands join reform rallies in egypt Two unknown groups claim responsibility for bombing US gives 300m to egypt after strained relations { June 4 2004 } Files Listed: 38

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