CAIRO, Feb 4 (Aswat Masriya) - Only 301 detainees remain jailed pending charges of violating the protest law, blocking roads and resisting the authorities, the Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Interior Ministry Spokesman Hany Abdel Latif said that "claims" by some international human rights organisations regarding the existence of thousands of detainees in Egyptian prisons for violating the protest law are unfounded, reported state-run news agency MENA. 

Some "foreign parties" work under the cover of human rights organisations, Abdel Latif reportedly said. He added that such organisations are used by the Muslim Brotherhood in its "terrorist schemes" against Egypt.

In its annual report on human rights conditions in over 90 countries, international watchdog Human Rights Watch said last week that authorities have arrested at least 22,000 since the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July 2013 and until July 2014, citing an Interior Ministry official. Most of those arrested are suspected Muslim Brotherhood supporters, HRW said.

HRW also cited in its report independent figures suggesting that over 41,000 have been arrested since July 2013. The Muslim Brotherhood says authorities have arrested around 29,000 of its members or "suspected supporters", HRW said.

"The arrest campaign expanded in 2014 to include secular and leftist activists on charges that include protesting without authorisation, incitement, 'thuggery', vandalism, blocking roads, and belonging to banned or 'terrorist' groups," the report read.

Abdel Latif meanwhile said that since June 30, 2013, the number of those detained for charges relating to the protest law, blocking roads and resisting the authorities has not exceeded 2703. He added that 2402 of the aforementioned have already been released.

The Interior Ministry spokesman said 106 detained Muslim Brotherhood "elements" have submitted "applications stating that they disown any terrorist acts committed by the organisation," and requesting "reconciliation with society."

"The Interior Ministry has taken the [necessary] legal steps in regards to such requests and has contacted the concerned judicial authorities," MENA quoted Abdel Latif as saying.

Egypt enforced in November 2013 the protest law to regulate peaceful assembly. The law, which landed dozens of protesters in prison, has long been the epicentre of wide criticism by domestic and international human rights organisations which say it violates international standards for peaceful protests.