U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday he hoped for free and fair parliamentary elections in Egypt planned for later this year.
Holder, on a visit to Cairo, also expressed hope that an investigation into a case of police brutality against an activist will be transparent and those responsible will be brought to justice. He said Egypt was still lagging in human rights but that there has been progress in the past few years.
Two Egyptian policemen went on trial Tuesday in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria for their roles in the June 6 death of activist Khaled Said. The charges against the two include illegal arrest and torture. Witnesses and human rights activists say police beat Said after he posted an Internet video that exposed police corruption.
Photos published on social networking sites after Said's death showed his battered and deformed face also had been shattered, along with other signs of trauma.
Egyptian investigators said the man died of asphyxia after he attempted to swallow a packet of drugs.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
