Egypt bans public protests

CAIRO, April 21 (UPI) -- Political organizations in Egypt called for broad-based discussions after the ruling military council ratified a draft law making demonstrations illegal.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces backed a draft measure that makes protests and strikes illegal in Egypt, Egyptian daily newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm reports.

Political organizations in Egypt have called for "expansive community discussions as (the law) concerns public freedoms," the Egyptian newspaper adds. The move, it notes, was unexpected.

Waves of protesters occupied Tahrir Square in Cairo earlier this year calling for more political freedom. Increasing pressure led to Hosni Mubarak's resignation in February after serving three decades as president of Egypt.

An internal investigation into the Egyptian revolution found more than 800 people were killed, twice the level originally reported by the government. Mubarak, his two sons and many members of his former regime are under investigation for their response to the anti-government protests.

Parts of Egypt are still sites of public unrest more than two months after Mubarak resigned. Protesters took to the streets in the southern city of Qena opposing the appointment of a Christian governor.