Egypt show host acquitted

Egyptian talk show host Tawfiq Okasha gestures as he arrives for his trial on charge of calling for the murder of President Mohamed Morsi, on September 1, 2012 in Cairo.

Egyptian talk show host Tawfiq Okasha gestures as he arrives for his trial on charge of calling for the murder of President Mohamed Morsi, on September 1, 2012 in Cairo.

Published Jan 8, 2013

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Cairo - An Egyptian court on Tuesday acquitted a television show presenter on charges of trying to incite President Mohamed Morsi's murder, a judicial official said.

Tawfiq Okasha, who hosted a show on his Faraeen television station, was put on trial after several people complained to the court that he called on Egyptians to overthrow Morsi and kill him.

Okasha's small television station has since been taken off air.

Several journalists and Bassem Yousef, the host of a popular satirical television show, face trials on charges of insulting the Islamist president.

Morsi's critics accuse him of trying to stamp out criticism in an often hostile media as the country faces a dire economy and a secular-leaning opposition prepares for parliamentary elections in two months.

In a statement on Sunday, senior Morsi aide Essam El-Haddad said most complaints against journalists were brought by citizens, and the presidency only sues media over fabricated news reports. - AFP

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