Egypt's police criticized over death of female protester
Egypt's police are coming under withering criticism as signs mount that officers not only fired a birdshot at a young mother during a peaceful protest last weekend but then also hampered efforts to save her life by ignoring pleas to let an ambulance take her away.
According to witnesses and rights lawyers who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday, police also prevented anyone from trying to help 32-year-old Shaimaa el-Sabbagh after she was shot.
El-Sabbagh, a mother of a small boy, died on Saturday after a birdshot fired by police hit her in the head during a rally she took part in - a small gathering of about 30-40 protesters from a leftist political party - at a downtown Cairo square, according to the witnesses.
