The Alexandria criminal court acquitted on Sunday activist Hassan Mostafa, accused of helping the escape of protesters arrested for blocking the Alexandria Railway Station tracks while demonstrating against the January Badrashin railway accident that had left at least 19 dead and over 100 wounded.

Mostafa's friends and other activists, who had filled the courtroom, jubilantly received the news; their chants and cheers -- "Hassan is innocent!" -- reverberated in the hall, reported Al-Ahram Arabic news website.

The activist was arrested 21 January after attempting to file a complaint with Alexandria's prosecutor-general on the absence of lawyers for dozens of detainees arrested in the 20 January protests.

He was sentenced to one year in prison for physically attacking and verbally abusing prosecutor Ahmed Darwish while attempting to file his complaint.

However, on 7 July, Darwish withdrew his complaint against the Alexandria-based activist.

According to news reports, Darwish decided to withdraw the complaint because prominent activists and revolutionary groups, including the Rebel campaign, demanded Mostafa's release.

Supporting activists claimed the charges were fabricated and several demonstrations were held in the coastal city campaigning for Mostafa's release.