Cairo: The historic trial of Egypt`s fallen
President Hosni Mubarak was on Monday adjourned till September 5
after the ailing former strongman returned to court wheeled on
a stretcher to answer charges of ordering the killing of over
800 anti-regime protesters, as his followers and opponents
scuffled in the streets outside.
In another dramatic day at the trial that has gripped the
Arab world, the court ruled that the proceedings will no
longer be telecast live.
Judge Ahmed Refaat also decided to merge Mubarak`s trial
will now be merged with that of ex-interior minister Habib
al-Adli, a step welcomed by lawyers for the families of
protesters killed in the uprising.
Mubarak, 83, faces death penalty if found guilty of
ordering the killing of around 800 pro-democracy protesters.
He is also facing corruption charges along with his sons Alaa
and Gamal, both of whom were also present in the case in
prison uniform.
As the toppled leader made his second appearance in court,
scuffles broke out outside the court house between the former
president`s supporters and antagonists.
"Hosni Mubarak is not Saddam" and "He is Egyptian until
death" read the placards as a number of his supporters
gathered outside the court guarded by hundreds of riot
policemen.
Mubarak, wearing a navy blue sports sweater, appeared in a
caged defendant`s box and answered "present" when trial judge
Refaat called his name. He was earlier flown in to the court
in a military helicopter from a Cairo hospital.
He was also seen exchanging words with his sons during the
proceedings.
The proceedings were often unruly and chaotic as a large
number of prosecution lawyers raised their points.
The judge ordered the merger of the trials of Mubarak and
al Adli, and announced that live TV coverage would end "in the
interest of the public" while adjourning the case to September
5.
The trial of Adli on charges of killing nearly 800
demonstrators during the uprising had resumed yesterday. He
has already been sentenced to 12 years in prison for
money-laundering.
Defence lawyers have also demanded that Mohamed Hussein
Tantawi, who was Mubarak`s defence minister for two decades,
and now leads the military council, testify over the former
president`s role in suppressing the uprising.
Mubarak was ousted in a massive uprising against his 30
year long regime in February following which the military took
up the role of a caretaker government to make way for
democratic elections in the country.
PTI
