Morsi blamed for protester deaths

CAIRO, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi should be held criminally responsible for the alleged torture and death of a protester Monday, activists said.

Popular Current activist Mohamed al-Gendy died Monday after spending several days at Helal Hospital, al-Masry al-Youm reported. He had low blood pressure, bleeding in the brain and a brain effusion.

Members of the political coalition he belonged to said al-Gendy had been kidnapped Jan. 27 during a protest in Tahrir Square.

Mohamed Abdel Aziz, a lawyer with al-Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence, said al-Gendy's body showed clear signs of torture.

Officials with the Health Ministry said al-Gendy had been transported to the hospital Jan. 28 after being involved in a car accident. Aziz accused the hospital of changing the date of al-Gendy's admittance to cover up his kidnapping.

Protests erupted Jan. 24 in Cairo on the eve of the second anniversary of the 2011 revolution that toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak.

Protesters accuse Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, of imposing a new form of authoritarianism and turning his back on the values behind the uprising.

Another Popular Current activist who was protesting, Amr Saad, died Sunday in Heliopolis Hospital after being injured Friday by bird shot pellets, Ahram Online reported.

Activists said Morsi and Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim should be blamed for the deaths.