An Egyptian court granted bail on Thursday to four defendants accused of killing protesters in the city of Suez during the 18-day uprising last winter.
The four men granted bail were among 14 defendants accused of killing protesters during the January unrest that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak last year. The charges include premeditated murder.
Two police officers were granted bail of LE2,000 each, while businessman Ibrahim Farag paid bail of LE10,000, as did one of his three sons.
The state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported that the court ordered the arrest of another of Farag's sons, Abboudi Ibrahim Farag. So far, he has not be located, and is being tried in absentia.
The other ten men accused of involvement in the crimes include the former security chief for Suez and several police officers. In July, the court ordered the release on bail of seven police officers in the case, while the others remain behind bars.
Suez was the scene of violent clashes between security forces and pro-democracy protesters during the 18-day uprising. Witnesses accuse the businessman and his sons, Abboudi, Adel and Arabi, of firing live rounds at the protesters.
The decision to grant bail to the four men on Thursday angered the families of the victims, according to the website of independent newspaper Al-Dostour. The site also reported that Tamer Radwan, a brother of one of the victims, is threatening to take revenge.
The trial, which is being held in Cairo for fear of reprisals from the relatives of the victims, is due to recommence on 6 March.
