Human rights activists say soldiers in Egypt subjected women protesters to virginity tests.

The allegations first surfaced after a March 9 rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

Amnesty International reported 18 female detainees were threatened with prostitution charges and most were forced to undergo the tests. The women were also reportedly beaten and given electric shocks.

A senior Egyptian military official admitted the forced testing was conducted. 

He defended the action, saying that the women "were not like your daughter or mine.  These were girls who had camped out in tents with male protesters."

Amnesty International responded saying the Egyptian authorities must be held responsible.

"This admission is an utterly perverse justification of a degrading form of abuse," the human rights group said.  "The women were subjected to nothing less than torture."