Egyptian police used 'excessive force' against protesters

A state-appointed committee concluded yesterday that Egyptian police used excessive force against pro-democracy protesters in a damning report on their conduct during the unrest that toppled President Hosni Mubarak.

The report was the first official account of the demonstrations that began on 25 January and eventually ended the autocratic 30-year rule of Mr Mubarak on 11 February. It said 846 protesters were killed and more than 6,000 wounded. Authorities had initially put the death toll at almost 380. Twenty-six policemen were also killed.

Human rights activists said the report was a significant step towards holding the former administration accountable, one of the central demands of the protesters.

"The right of peaceful assembly is a recognised and basic human freedom," the government appointed Fact Finding Mission committee said in its report.