Egypt refers three leading activists to trial for protesting

Egypt's public prosecutor referred leading political activist Ahmed Maher to trial on Thursday on charges including protesting without permission, a judicial official said.

It was the first case of an activist being charged under the provisions of a new law criticized for stifling the right to protest. Wael Shibl, the prosecutor, said Maher faced other charges including assaulting police and "resisting the authorities". (Reuters)