Two officials eyed in attacks on women

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CAIRO, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Egypt's top justice official is investigating two top Muslim Brotherhood officials for allegedly inciting attacks on women during a protest last week.

The officials, Mohamed el-Beltagy and Essam el-Erian, are under investigation by Attorney General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud after at least one woman claimed supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood sought out and attacked women at the Friday afternoon demonstration, Bikyamasr.com reported Monday.

Opposing factions eventually attacked each other.

Mahmoud Saturday refused to step down as attorney general after President Mohamed Morsi tried to appoint him as ambassador to the Vatican.

The Friday attacks at Tahrir Square were the latest in a series of assaults against women protesters this year.

In June, both foreigners and Egyptians reported being sexually assaulted in the square after Parliament was disbanded.

Earlier that month, an anti-sexual harassment demonstration organized by more than 20 women's group was attacked by thugs who attempted to throw rocks and glass at them.

In March dozens of women marching on International Women's Day were attacked by a mob of men who groped and sexually assaulted them.

The Egyptian Center for Women's Rights reported in 2008 more than two-thirds of Egyptian women were sexually harassed daily.