CAIRO (AP) — A military tribunal sentenced two young Egyptian activists to six-month prison terms after convicting them of insulting the army, a court official said Wednesday.
The trial of 19-year-old Hassan Mahmoud and 23-year-old Karim Mahmoud adds more tension to the deteriorating relationship between Egyptian democracy advocates and the ruling military council over freedom of expression in Egypt, after a popular revolution that ousted longtime President Hosni Mubarak in February.

On Sunday, another well known activist Asmaa Mahfouz, who was among thousands who led the uprising, was charged with inciting violence and released on bail.
The U.S. on Wednesday expressed concern about an indictment against Mahfouz.

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters, "The United States believes that all individuals should be allowed to peacefully exercise their right of freedom of expression. We're also concerned by reports of other democracy activists being summoned to appear before a military tribunal."

She said the U.S. supports Egypt;s transition to democracy, "but democracy is not only about elections; it's also about freedom of speech, it's about freedom of assembly, it's about respect for the rights of minorities, and strong and accountable institutions."

New York-based Human Rights Watch condemned the military council for trying to "silence critical voices."
After ouster of Mubarak on Feb. 11, the military courts have sentenced 10.000 civilians, according to several human rights groups including HRW.
Also Wednesday, Mubarak's chief of staff was charged with corruption and abuse of power, according to Egypt's official news agency.

The Justice Ministry said Zakariya Azmi, one of Egypt's most powerful officials under Mubarak, will be tried in a criminal court on charges of "misuse of power, authority of his post and his membership in parliament."
Azmi is charged of "accumulation of wealth in a way beyond what he could have earned from his legitimate sources of income," Egypt's Middle East News Agency reported Wednesday.

Azmi is among dozens of top Mubarak's officials who are in a Cairo prison, facing trial over similar charges. Mubarak himself is on trial on charges of corruption and ordering the killing of protesters. He could face the death penalty.