Two men were yesterday remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to causing grievous injuries in separate fights in Valletta.

The first incident happened at 11 p.m. on Friday close to Freedom Square, Valletta, when Syrian Adel Dawah, 40, got involved in an argument with Ali Hasan.

Mr Dawah, who appeared in court with his fractured arm in a sling and blood splattered on his clothes and shoes, used a flick knife to stab Mr Hasan several times. Mr Hasan was last night still recovering in hospital.

Mr Dawah was also accused of carrying a knife without a licence.

Valletta police were then called out around 5.30 a.m. yesterday after a fight broke out between John Agius, 22, of Floriana, and Alfred Fiteni, in his 40s, from Senglea. Mr Agius had left one of the clubs along the waterfront and was looking for his car, when he bumped into Mr Fiteni, who he said was inviting trouble. Mr Fiteni ended up with severe head injuries.

Both Mr Dawah and Mr Agius pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Anthony Vella, but were denied bail. Police Inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud prosecuted, while lawyers Jose Herrera and Veronique Dalli appeared for the accused.