Egypt: five police sentenced for killing protesters

Cairo: An Egyptian court has sentenced five policemen to 10 years in prison in absentia for killing protesters during last year's uprising.

Typically defendants who do not appear in court are automatically convicted but may appeal.

Giza Criminal Court gave two other policemen one-year suspended sentences, while ten other policemen were acquitted.

A total of 17 policemen were standing trial on Tuesday for killing five protesters and injuring 17 others in front of three police stations during Egypt's 2011 uprising in Giza, Cairo's twin city.

More than 800 protesters were killed during the upheaval that forced longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak to step down.

Many died from gunshot wounds sustained in clashes outside police stations.