Blogger Remanded in Custody over Deadly Copt Clashes

The military prosecutor's office on Sunday remanded in custody a blogger accused of inciting violence during an October 9 demonstration by Coptic Christians in Egypt's capital, a rights group said.

Alaa Abdul Fattah was remanded in custody for 15 days, Gamal Eid, head of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, told Agence France Presse.

He also stands accused of vandalism during the demonstration which degenerated into clashes with security forces in which 25 people were killed, most of them Copts protesting over the burning of a church in southern Egypt.

Eid said the young man was remanded in custody after having refused to undergo questioning by the military prosecution on the grounds that the military itself was implicated in the case.

"There's a campaign to go after activists," charged Eid, who said that a second activist, Bahaa Taher, underwent questioning by the prosecution after Abdul Fattah's case.

Coptic witnesses said they were fired upon by soldiers during a protest march and that several people were killed when armored vehicles ran over and crushed them.

The army denies charges of having used excessive force and says three of its soldiers were shot dead, but it has also been criticized for putting civilians on trial in military courts.