Egypt sentences prominent activist to five years in jail

　　CAIRO, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court on Monday sentencedprominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah to five years in prison overcharges of organizing unlicensed protests and inciting violence,state-run Nile TV reported.

　　Blogger Abdel Fattah was one of the leading activists whospearheaded the massive protests that toppled president HosniMubarak in 2011.

　　He was also fined 100,000 Egyptian pounds (nearly 13,000 U.S.dollars.)

　　The presiding judge dismissed other charges against Abdel Fattahof assaulting policemen and robbing weapons.

　　Abdel Fattah was sentenced in June last year to 15 years in jailalong with 24 others over organizing anti-government protestswithout police permit, inciting violence and attacking policemenoutside the Shura Council building (the upper house ofparliament).

　　He appealed the ruling and the Court of Cassation ordered aretrial in September.

　　The other 24 defendants were sentenced to three to 15 years injail. Enditem