Egypt ex-president Mubarak’s trial postponed

Cairo: The trial of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak on charges of complicity in the deaths of protesters was adjourned on Saturday until August 25, after a brief session.

Mubarak, 85, and his former interior minister, Habib al-Adly, are on trial with six members of the regime overthrown in a 2011 uprising. Neither of the two men attended Saturday`s short hearing. A first trial against Mubarak, which ended with him being sentenced to life, was overturned by an appeals court on the basis of procedural errors. Mubarak is on trial along with his two sons, six former high-ranking security service officials and a businessman, Hussein Salem, who has fled to Spain. He was overthrown in early 2011 in an uprising that left more than 850 dead, according to official figures. The adjournment means Mubarak`s next court date will coincide with the beginning of the trial against senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. Members of the organisation, including supreme guide Mohamed Badie, who is at large, are accused of inciting the deaths of protesters. The organisation, which was banned during Mubarak`s time, came to power after he was overthrown, winning presidential and parliamentary elections. But it was pushed from power by the military after massive June 30 demonstrations against Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, and many of its leaders are now in prison or on the run. AFP