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Egypt's prosecutor general ordered 24 activists to be held for four days for protesting against a newly passed law criminalising demonstrations without permits.
He also issued arrest warrants for leading activists Alaa Abdel-Fatah and Ahmed Maher, leader of the April 6 youth movement, for "inciting protesters to violate the law." At the same time, however, 14 female protesters were released.
But any joy the protesters felt at their release was tempered when it was revealed that they were apparently dumped by the roadside in the desert in the middle of the night.
Youth groups renewed calls for protests to press for the detainees' release and to push the government into abolishing the contentious law.
And 20 members of a parliamentary panel drafting a new constitution walked out in protest at the arrests and the warrants for the two activist leaders.
Security forces used water cannon on Tuesday to break up a demonstration outside Cairo's upper house of parliament, where protesters denounced a proposed constitutional amendment allowing military courts to try civilians.
TV reports showed police beating up protesters and tearing their clothes while dragging others by the hair.
The images went viral on social networking sites and sparked a wave of anger against the authorities, sharpened by activists' claims that female protesters had been sexually assaulted.
Even some supporters of the military-backed government have joined criticism of the authorities, warning that the new law would increase opposition and could push secular activists into a common cause with Islamists.
They warned that the legislation could end up turning pro-democracy activists into enemies of the military-backed government.
However, the government insists that the protest law is needed to restore security and rein in near-daily protests by supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi demanding his reinstatement.
Their Islamist rallies have often deteriorated into bloody clashes with security forces, leaving hundreds dead.
Mr Morsi's supporters issued a statement denouncing their "brutal repression."