Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has dropped lawsuits by his office against journalists who criticized his leadership, the state-run al-Ahram newspaper said on Thursday, a step designed to allay concerns about press freedom in Egypt, dpa reported.
"The president has directed that all legal complaints lodged by the legal affairs department of the presidency against a number of journalists be withdrawn in respect of freedom of expression," the paper quoted presidential spokesman Ihab Fahmi as saying.
However, the withdrawal does not affect dozens of suits believed to have been filed by Morsi's supporters against media outlets and journalists who have criticized the Islamist president.
Popular TV satirist Bassem Youssef was released on bail last month after investigations for allegedly insulting Morsi and Islam on a weekly show.
A court last week dismissed a case that requested taking Youssef's show off the air and revoking the licence of the private TV station CBC, which broadcasts the programme.
The mostly secular opposition accuses Morsi of behaving like a dictator.
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