Egypt activist convicted for insulting president

Cairo: Egypt`s state-run news agency says an Egyptian activist has been convicted of insulting the president and received a six-month suspended sentence. Ahmed Douma is the first prominent critic of President Mohammed Morsi to be convicted on the charge. Activists yesterday filled the court room in a Cairo suburb, clapping and chanting: "Why is the government afraid of you Douma?" Douma was charged after he called Morsi a criminal and said he lost his legitimacy after a deadly security crackdown on protesters in the coastal city of Port Said that left 40 people dead in February. He also criticized Morsi`s Muslim Brotherhood group for being behind a bloody raid against peaceful protesters outside Morsi`s office last year. Morsi`s government accuses its opponents of fuelling unrest to undermine his rule. PTI