Egyptian authorities have freed a prominent secular activist but extended the detention of another after the two were arrested for holding unauthorised demonstrations.
Ahmed Maher, founder of one of the main groups that spearheaded the revolt against Hosni Mubarak in 2011, had been released, judicial sources said on Sunday.
However, Alaa Abdel Fattah, another prominent secular activist who had been arrested at his home late on Thursday, was being detained for another 15 days.
Maher had turned himself in at a Cairo court on Saturday.
Both of the activists were ordered arrested for holding unauthorised demonstrations in Cairo last week.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Abdel Fattah's detention was extended because he was accused of breaking a law on demonstrations, inciting protesters to riot, and cutting of roads and beating a police officer.
Egyptian authorities say their demonstrations were unauthorised according to the law passed by the interim president Adly Mansour on November 24 which bans all gatherings held without obtaining prior permission.
Abdel Fattah held a demonstration against a provision in the draft charter allowing military trials of civilians.
The provisions concerning the military's powers and privileges will be under focus Sunday when a 50-member panel that drafted the new charter meets to vote on it.
