Egypt Court Sentences Prominent Activist to 5 Years in Jail

An Egyptian court sentenced prominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah to five years in jail on Monday for violating a law that seeks to curtail demonstrations, legislation branded repressive by rights groups.

The court erupted into chants of "Down, down with military rule" after the verdict was read out.

Abdel Fattah was a leading secular figure in the 2011 revolt that toppled veteran autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

A total of 25 defendants - including Abdel Fattah - had been sentenced to 15 years each in absentia for violating the law and before a retrial.

Earlier, the same court adjourned to March 8 the trial of two Al Jazeera television journalists who are charged with aiding a terrorist organisation - a reference to the banned Muslim Brotherhood.