Jailed activist: Egyptian military have reversed gains of Arab Spring

An Egyptian activist jailed over claims that the military killed 27 protesters during clashes last month has accused the country's new rulers of reversing the democratic gains of the Arab Spring.

After claiming that the armed forces were responsible for the deaths during a Coptic Christian protest in Cairo on October 9, Alaa Abd El Fattah was arrested on charges of "inciting violence and sabotage". Software engineer and blogger Mr Abd El Fattah - who was jailed by the previous Mubarak regime for speaking out against it - refused to be questioned by the military, leading to his imprisonment.

In a letter smuggled out of his prison cell he said: "I never expected to repeat the experience of five years ago: after a revolution that deposed the tyrant, to go back to his jails."

Support for Mr Abd El Fattah appears to be growing among Egyptians with thousands protesting in Tahrir Square for his release.