Egypt to pardon 334

CAIRO, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- The interim government in Egypt has announced plans to pardon 334 of the thousands of people convicted by military courts following protest demonstrations.

Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi made the announcement on the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Web site, al-Masry al-Youm reported. The announcement said the names of those being released will be revealed later.

The SCAF has been the government of Egypt since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February. Activists say 12,000 civilians have been sent to military tribunals for trial, many of them activists who have continued the protests that began under Mubarak.