Egyptian journalists gag their mouths with tape during a protest in front of the Journalists Syndicate in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

CAIRO (AP) — Women detainees and rights groups have accused Egyptian troops and prison authorities of sexual assault in the latest crackdown on demonstrations.

More than a dozen women were detained among some 300 protesters following a demonstration outside the Defense Ministry in Cairo last week.

Rights activist Aida Seif al-Dawla said Wednesday that female prison guards sexually assaulted some women by inspecting their vaginas under the pretext of searching for drugs.

A recently released female detainee told a parliamentary committee that soldiers groped her, knocked her unconscious and threatened her with sexual assault.

The was no immediate comment from the ruling military.

There was outrage last year against "virginity tests" by a military doctor on female detainees.

Associated Press
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