Police accused in protest deaths acquitted in Egypt

A criminal court in Cairo acquitted two police officers of killing five protesters during Egypt's 2011 uprising. The acquittal of police officer Ahmed el-Shazly and police aide Khaled Abu Zeid came Thursday after a trial that lasted for more than 18 months, bikyamasr.com reported. The two officers were accused of killing five peaceful protesters and injuring seven others on January 28, 2011, in the Darb al-Ahmar area of Cairo. The mother of slain protester Ahmed Khalifa was present in court Thursday. Khalifa's mother, whose name was not reported, burst into tears upon hearing the verdict, saying "for a year and a half I have been seeking justice and we are used to this acquittal of police officers, yet I had hope." A large number of police officers who had been accused of killing protesters during the 18-day uprising have been acquitted, sparking anger among activists and families of the victims.