Egypt Orders Release on Bail of April 6 Youth Activists

The public prosecutor's office on Thursday ordered the release on bail of four leaders of the now banned April 6 youth movement that spearheaded Egypt's 2011 revolution.

Sherif al-Rubi, Mohamed Nabil, Ayman Abdel Megid and Mahmud Hesham were arrested on December 28.

They were accused of "inciting violence" and "calling for protests" -- banned unless sanctioned by police -- in the run-up to the fifth anniversary of the uprising that toppled longtime president Hosni Mubarak.

The Cairo prosecutor's office authorized their release on a bail of 2,000 Egyptian pounds (around 230 euros), its head Mohamed Badawi said.

Their lawyer Mohamed Eissa el-Sarawi said they would pay the bail and hoped procedures for their release would be completed quickly.

The authorities have cracked down on all opposition since the army in July 2013 toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, Mubarak's successor.

In November 2013, Egypt passed a new law banning protests that do not have prior authorization from the police.

The following month, April 6 leader Ahmed Maher was sentenced to three years in prison for violating the law.

In April 2014, an Egyptian court banned the April 6 youth movement.

Since summer 2013, authorities have launched a brutal crackdown on Morsi's supporters that has seen hundreds killed and thousands jailed.

Secular activists who took part in the 2011 revolt have also been imprisoned.