Egypt's president has removed his prosecutor general from office after a court acquitted loyalists of ousted President Hosni Mubarak of organizing a brutal attack on protesters last year.

Egyptian state television announced Thursday that President Mohammed Morsi removed General Abdel Maguid Mahmoud and named him as the country's ambassador to the Vatican.

The announcement follows activists blaming Mahmoud of presenting weak evidence that resulted in the acquittals of 24 Mubarak loyalists.

They had faced charges for organizing a notorious camel-borne assault on protesters during last year's popular uprising.