Court postpones ruling in case of blogger whose death inspired revolt

Dozens of political activists reacted with anger yesterday as a criminal court in the coastal city of Alexandria decided to postpone until September a ruling in the case of Khalid Saeed, a young blogger whose death is believed to have inspired a popular revolt against former president Hosni Mubarak. "The ruling has been postponed to September 24 to allow a new team of experts to review the results of Saeed's autopsies," a judicial official said. Last year, two autopsies ordered by Egypt's state prosecutor concluded that Saeed had died of asphyxiation after swallowing a bag of marijuana when he saw police officers approaching. Rights groups staunchly rejected the results, accusing authorities of covering up police abuse, as graphic pictures of a bruised and battered Saeed appeared on social networking sites, triggering a public outcry. The delay enraged Saeed's family and their supporters, including relatives of people killed by police in the 18-day revolt that forced Mubarak to step down last February. Angry protesters demanded "retribution for Saeed and all other martyrs" outside the court building, which was guarded by army armoured vehicles and tanks. Mahmoud Salah and Awad Esmail, two undercover policemen, are accused of "using cruelty" against Saeed. A verdict in the case, whose hearings opened on July 27, 2010, was widely expected yesterday. Eyewitnesses allege that the two defendants beat Saeed to death outside an internet cafe in Alexandria on June 6, 2010. From /gulf news.