By Shaimaa Fayed/Reuters
CAIRO: Egypt has released 108 political prisoners, state television reported on Sunday, following a pledge by Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq.
Shafiq was quoted as saying by state news agency MENA on Saturday that 222 prisoners would soon be freed but did not say when. Shafiq had put the number of remaining political prisoners at 487, MENA said.
Only a handful of people were detained during the popular uprising that began on Jan. 25 and led to the toppling of president Hosni Mubarak, MENA quoted Shafiq as saying.
Rights groups say thousands of Egyptians have been detained without charge under the country’s emergency laws and that many of them might be classified as political prisoners.
Protesters and rights groups say hundreds went missing during the protests that toppled Mubarak and that some are being held by authorities.
