The Egyptian Journalists Syndicate said on Thursday that a state security prosecutor has summoned the former editor of Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper and eight of his colleagues over their presidential election coverage.

The editor, Mohammed Al-Sayed Saleh, was dismissed from his position and the paper was fined 150,000 Egyptian pounds (USD 8500) after the National Election Commission filed a complaint claiming the paper had spread false news alleging that the government had interfered in the voting process.

The gove
rnment denied it had interfered in the voting process and said the story aimed at insulting the presidential elections and questioning their integrity.

Days before the election, Egypt expelled The Times correspondent, Bel Trew, while he was conducting interviews with people.

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi was re-elected for second term earlier last month, in elections which some critics described as undemocratic after serious competitors quit the race or were arrested.