Senior defense officials said Friday that ninety-four suspected Muslim militants have been charged in Cairo with plotting to carry out terrorist acts in Egypt and will be tried before a military court.
The officials were quoted by the Associated Press (AP) as saying that the trial of the group, all suspected members of the previously unknown Al-Wa'ad group, was scheduled to open Sunday at Cairo's high military court, the setting chosen by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
According to the official sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, a charge sheet filed by a military prosecutor included accusations that they planned to assassinate public figures, blow up and sabotage government establishments, and possessed explosives and ammunition.
They are also accused of setting up an "unconstitutional" group whose goal is to disturb public order.
Of the 94 members of Al-Wa'ad, which means "the promise," 87 have been in police custody since May.
Early in November, the Egyptian police cracked down on the leading opposition group, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, arresting 21 member.
Officials said that the members of the banned political group were arrested and held “on condition of anonymity.”
The officials did not say what the detainees were suspected of doing.
But, reports quoted police sources as saying that the arrested men were charged of "belonging to an illegal organization (and) attempting to reorganize their movement in order to propagate ideas to disturb public opinion." – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
