Judges boycott their hearing

2006-05-11 21:01

Nadia Abou El-Magd

Cairo - Thousands of Egyptian riot police broke up pro-reform protests in Cairo on Thursday.

The demonstrators had gathered to support two of the country's judges, facing disciplinary action after they blew the whistle on fraud in Egyptian elections.

The two judges boycotted their disciplinary hearing on Thursday, in protest against the Egyptian police's treatment of the demonstrators.

Eight people were arrested.

Al-Jazeera television said one of its cameramen had been beaten by Egyptian security forces, who had turned out in massive force around the court where the judges were due to appear.

A reporter for the network said the cameraman was beaten in his face, and his camera and tape confiscated.

Reuters reported that Egyptian police smashed the camera of its photographer, and pushed and shoved a Reuters cameraman, dragged him on the ground and confiscated his camera.

An Associated Press reporter tried to get into the hearing but was pushed to the ground and stepped on by uniformed police, who surged through the crowd to chase protesters.

Police pushed back protesters

The Egyptian government has taken a tough line against pro-democracy activists, who have rallied around the judges and accused President Hosni Mubarak of backing off promised reforms.

About 48 activists have been arrested in demonstrations backing the judges in recent weeks.

Thursday's scuffles began after the country's riot police cordoned off streets leading to the court, and began pushing back protesters and journalists.

When protesters ran away, they said police chased after them, grabbing them and dragging them toward trucks.

"This is what the regime is doing to us, we are victims and strangers in our homeland," said Hafez el-Fergani.

"Our honourable judges, we are with you, we didn't forget about you," others chanted.

The protesters tried to gather in several locations around downtown Cairo. In one square, about 50 protesters chanted slogans and held banners in support of the judges.

'All measures taken violate the law'

The disciplinary hearing for the two judges, Hisham el-Bastiwisy and Mahmoud Mekki, was postponed until May 18.

The two judges are from the Egyptian court of cassation, the country's highest court.

They were referred to the disciplinary board after they spoke to the press about their allegations of fraud in Egypt's parliament elections, held in November and December.

"We didn't attend today because all the measures taken violate the law. This is not a trial, this is a scandal, so we protested and walked away," said el-Bastiwisy.

"All those troops are not for our trial, it's because they are afraid of the nation. They are beating people up like mad in the streets. We won't attend until they stop and release all those detained because of their support."

Egyptian police put down similar protests during the first session of the judges' hearing, on April 27.

- AP