Egyptian prosecutors ordered on Monday the release of veteran journalist Khaled Dawoud pending investigation in charges of aiding a terrorist organisation in achieving its goals via disseminating false news.

The prosecution had accused Dawoud, the former chairperson of the centre left Dostour (Constitution) Party, of knowingly aiding a terrorist group in achieving its goals, publishing and spreading fake news, and misusing social media.

Dawoud was arrested in September 2019.