Egypt's military rulers have pardoned a young activist who was charged by military prosecutors with defaming the army and inciting armed violence, the semi-official newspaper Al-Ahram reported Friday.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which has governed Egypt since former president Hosny Mubarak was toppled in February, said on its Facebook page that it had dropped its complaint against activist Asmaa Mahfouz.

Open gallery view Egyptian protesters shout anti-military rulers slogans as they march at Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, July 11, 2011 during the fourth day of protest. Credit: AP

"The council calls on all Egyptians to express their opinions in a responsible way without defamation," the council added.

The referral of Mahfouz, 27, to a military court drew massive criticism from local and international human rights groups.

Mahfouz is a co-founder of the April 6 movement that helped ignite the anti-Mubarak revolution. Around 10,000 civilians have been prosecuted by military tribunals since Mubarak's ouster, according to activists.

Defendants have no right to appeal verdicts passed by military courts.

