Story number 2 for 8 Feb 2001

(Egypt)–Meanwhile, an Egyptian judge has given freedom to dozens of Muslims, allegedly responsible for killing 21 Christians in last year’s El Kosheh massacre. Of the 96 suspects in the case, the court acquitted all but four of the suspects. The guilty were convicted of lesser crimes, the most serious being a 10-year sentence for possession of an illegal weapon. According to reports, the light sentences were an attempt to avoid flaring further sectarian violence. Attorneys in the case hope to overturn the verdict.