Cairo: Egypt Wednesday summoned ambassadors of the European Union countries to protest against a recent statement, which expressed concern about the death of a young Egyptian whose family say was beaten to death by police.
"Regardless of the content of the statement, this move constitutes a glaring violation of the diplomatic norms and an unacceptable interference in Egypt's internal affairs," said the spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, according to the official Middle East News Agency.
A report on a second autopsy, ordered by Egypt's Chief Prosecutor last week, said that Khaled Saeed had died of asphyxia after choking on a bag of drugs when approached by police in the coastal city of Alexandria.
Meanwhile, his family and local eyewitnesses insist he had been beaten to death by two detectives on June 6.
"There is an investigation into the incident being conducted by the Egyptian judiciary, whose measures and rulings should be respected by everyone," added the spokesman.
Saeed's death has been a rally point for opposition and political activists against the Emergency Law, which they say give police massive powers to detect people on suspicion.
The Egyptian government says that the Emergency Law, in force since 1981, is used only against terrorism and drug-related crimes.
