Egypt unrest: 846 killed in protests - official toll

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A wounded man in Tahrir Square in Cairo, 2 February
Image caption,
More than 6,400 people were injured, the fact-finding panel says

At least 846 people were killed during the popular uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak, an Egyptian government fact-finding panel says.

It accuses the security forces of "excessive" use of force during the mass protests which began on 25 January, the AP news agency reports.

Mr Mubarak stepped down on 11 February after almost 30 years in power.

Separately, former Vice President Omar Suleiman is to be questioned about the crackdown, the prosecutor general said.

The long-time intelligence chief was summoned as a witness over "information held by the intelligence services on the events of the 25 January revolution," the prosecutor's office said in a statement quoted by French news agency AFP.

He was questioned about "the killing of protesters during peaceful protests and over the wealth of the former president and his family," it added.

Hosni Mubarak, 82, named Mr Suleiman as his first ever deputy on 29 January, in a failed attempt to placate the protesters.

Mr Mubarak is under detention in a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh awaiting questioning on corruption charges and alleged violence against protesters.

His two sons are among a growing number of ministers and officials from his ruling circle who are also facing investigation.

The nationwide protests also left more than 6,400 people injured, said the panel's report.

The mission - consisting of a panel of judges - said security forces fired live ammunition, placed snipers on rooftops and used vehicles to run over protesters.

The revised toll of 846 civilians dead is more than twice the previous official figure of 365.

Twenty-six policemen were also killed in the 18 days of unrest, the report said.