Egyptian police jailed in absentia over uprising deaths

Five Egyptian police officers have been sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison for their role in the deaths of protesters during the 2011 uprising.

Police are widely blamed for excesses during the uprising, which forced President Hosni Mubarak to step down, but this is the first such conviction.

Two other officers were given suspended sentences and 10 more were acquitted.

The sentencing comes a day before Egyptians vote in the first presidential poll since the uprising.

Last Thursday, 14 police officers were acquitted of similar offences, angering victims’ families and activists.