Cairo: A second autopsy on the body of an Egyptian blogger, whose family say was beaten to death by police, has concluded the 28 year old died from swallowing a packet of drugs, according to a top legal official.
"The report on the new autopsy ordered by the Prosecutor-General shows that Khalid Saeed died of asphyxia caused by choking on a strange object, which after analysing was found to be a plastic packet of the green drug known as bhang," Yasser Refae, the First Attorney-General in Alexandria said on Wednesday.
Saeed, an internet activist, died outside a cyber cafe in Alexandria on June 6. His family and local witnesses said two detectives had beaten him to death.
The case has triggered sharp criticism from local and international human rights groups, who blame police for his death under the Emergency Law, which gives security agencies sweeping powers in detention on suspicion.
According to the latest forensic report conducted by a state-run medical department, Saeed sustained injuries as a result of hitting "solid objects" while detectives were trying to restrain him.
"These injuries were minor and did not cause his death," Refae quoted the report as saying.
Denouncing the findings as fake, Saeed's family said they will turn to the UN to investigate the case.
"We don't accept this report. We will not rest until the killers are put on trial," said Zahrah, Saeed's sister. "We will resort to the UN to investigate his murder," she added. "We are sure that this report is fake and seeks to mislead Egyptian and world public opinion about the real cause of his death."
The Ministry of Interior had earlier said in a statement Saeed was an ex-convict and had died when he choked on a joint he swallowed as police attempted to arrest him.
Amnesty International described Saeed's killing as "brutal" and called for an immediate, full, and independent investigation.
Egyptian political activists, including Mohammad Al Baradei, a potential presidential contender, are expected to stage a commemoration protest in Alexandria, Saeed's hometown today.
