An Egyptian opposition youth activist was on Monday sentenced by a Cairo court to six months in prison for insulting President Mohamed Morsi. Ahmed Duma, who was tried for calling Morsi "a criminal and murderer" during a television broadcast, was also ordered to pay a fine of 200 Egyptian pounds (22 euros). The activist blogger can be released on bail of 5,000 pounds (550 euros) pending a decision by an appeals court. Duma is the first anti-Morsi activist to be sentenced to a jail term, according to human rights groups.

CAIRO (Reuters) - A law drafted by the Egyptian presidency for regulating non-governmental organizations dashes hopes for a free civil society after the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak, Human Rights Watch said on Thursday. President Mohamed Mursi has said the bill submitted to the Muslim Brotherhood-led parliament on Wednesday would liberate a civil society that was stifled by Mubarak, who was toppled by an uprising ignited by democracy activists.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Monday expressed concern over defamation charges brought against two Egyptian journalists critical of President Mohamed Mursi and called on the government to condemn actions that stifle freedom of expression. Public Prosecutor Talaat Ibrahim, appointed by Mursi in November, ordered the criminal trial of Magdi El Galad, editor in chief of El-Watan newspaper, and Alaa El-Ghatrify, its managing editor, state newspaper Al-Ahram reported.

CAIRO (Reuters) - A Cairo court quashed the convictions of six men accused of attacking police and damaging property during protests against Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi and freed them on Monday, judicial sources said. The ruling earlier this month against the men, aged 19 to 25, was the first dealing with a little-known group known as the Black Bloc which the Islamist-led government has accused of participating in "terrorist acts".