BREAKING NEWS

Leading Egyptian activist turns himself in

CAIRO - Ahmad Maher, a symbol of the popular uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011, turned himself in to the authorities on Saturday after an order for his arrest was made for defying a tough new law restricting demonstrations.
The protest law, passed a week ago by the army-backed interim government, has provoked an outcry among rights groups. The army deposed elected Islamist President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, following mass protests against his rule, and the country has seen widespread unrest since.
Maher and around 100 supporters made their way to Abdeen court, chanting: "Down down with military rule. I'll write on the prison wall that army rule is a shame and a betrayal."
Clashes broke out between security forces and activists outside the court after Maher turned himself in to prosecutors. Police fired tear gas and used their batons to disperse the crowd.