Egypt policeman to stand trial over killing female activist

Egypt's Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat on Tuesday referred a policeman to criminal court over charges of shooting dead a female activist in January, official news agency MENA reported.

Shaimaa Sabbagh, a member of a leftist party, died of birdshot wounds she sustained during a protest on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Egypt's 2011 uprising that toppled autocratic longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak, a statement by the prosecutor's office said.

Sabbagh's death provoked international uproar as she was taking part in a peaceful rally.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had ordered an urgent investigation into the incident to hold those responsible accountable.

Police launched harsh crackdown on Islamists and activists after the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July, 2013, amid fears that the oppressive acts of security men against civilians, which triggered the 2011 uprising, would return.

Sabbagh's death was reportedly behind the sacking of interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim in a recent cabinet reshuffle.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, the prosecutor also ordered sending 16 other defendants to court over the killings of football fans in February. Endit