Human Rights Watch says Egypt gagging dissent as chiefs denied entry

Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch speaks during a keynote panel discussion at the International CTIA wireless industry conference in Orlando, Florida March 24, 2011. REUTERS/Scott Audette

CAIRO (Reuters) - Human Rights Watch accused Egypt's government of trying to silence all criticism, after two of its top staff were held at Cairo airport for 12 hours and then denied entry to the country for "security reasons," the group said on Monday.

Executive Director Kenneth Roth and Middle East and North Africa Director Sarah Leah Whitson had flown to Cairo to launch a report on the mass killings of protesters by security forces one year ago, weeks after the army removed elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi from power.