6 Egyptian journalists awaiting trial on libel charges

6 Journalists from the opposition "Al-Shaab" newspaper will be put on trial within a few weeks on charges of libeling the interior minister and insulting the police, security sources said yesterday.

The prosecutor ended his questioning of the journalists on Monday and refered them to the court the same day. A trial date has been determined.

The same sources said Shaab editor-in-chief Magdi Ahmed Hussien was charged with publishing corruption allegations against Hassan El Alfy, interior minister of Egypt, and waging a slander campaign against the police authority in the period between July 25 and August 22, Al Wafd daily said today.