Egypt's Sisi urges for new law to restrain police abuses

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Friday urged for legislative amendments or new laws to restrain police abuses in the country, official MENA news agency reported.

The news came one day after a non-commissioned policeman reportedly gunned down a driver over a fare dispute, which led dozens of citizens to protest outside Cairo security headquarters.

"Such behaviors should be faced by law to be deterrently stopped and the perpetrators should be held accountable," Sisi said after meeting with Interior Minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar on Friday.

The Egyptian president said the issue requires making some legislative amendments or drafting some new laws to adjust the police performance in the streets and to ensure whoever abuses citizens will be punished.

Sisi ordered such amendments or bills to be presented to the newly-elected parliament for discussion within 15 days.

"Egypt and its people appreciate the sacrifices and efforts of honorable policemen to achieve safety and stability," Sisi continued, adding that honorable policemen reject the individual violations of some colleagues.

Egypt has recently witnessed some cases of police abuses that stirred up anger among some Egyptians.

Last week, thousands of doctors protested outside the doctors' syndicate in Cairo over alleged assault by non-commissioned policemen against two doctors who refused to fake a medical report for them. Endit