Wednesday, 07 September 2011
Hosni Mubarak, the first Arab head of state to be tried in person since unrest erupted across the Middle East this year, is charged with conspiring to kill protesters. (Photo by Reuters)
The trial of Egyptian former president Hosni Mubarak reopened Wednesday, state TV said, with new witnesses set to be questioned over the deaths of hundreds of protesters in the revolt that ousted him.
Shortly after the hearing started, arguments erupted inside the courtroom, forcing the judge to suspend the session for a while. The session was resumed shortly.
The latest hearing is the fourth in the trial which opened on August 3 and, unlike the first two sessions, the process is being held behind closed doors and off-camera.
Television footage showed the ailing 83-year-old arriving at the courtroom in an ambulance and on a stretcher, as for the earlier sessions.
But there were no reports of any trouble between his supporters and opponents outside the court as on Monday, when police arrested 20 people who clashed before he appeared at the court.
Lawyers representing families of the victims demanded to hear the testimony of Army Chief Field Marshal Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi, former vice president Omar Suleiman and the president's wife Suzanne Mubarak.
According to Al Arabiya, one witness said that a police general and 15 of his aides fired at protesters from the American University in Cairo. Another witness said that the shooting came upon the instructions of former interior minister Habib al-Adli and his assistants.
Shortly after the hearing started, arguments erupted inside the courtroom, forcing the judge to suspend the session for a while. The session was resumed shortly.
The latest hearing is the fourth in the trial which opened on August 3 and, unlike the first two sessions, the process is being held behind closed doors and off-camera.
Television footage showed the ailing 83-year-old arriving at the courtroom in an ambulance and on a stretcher, as for the earlier sessions.
But there were no reports of any trouble between his supporters and opponents outside the court as on Monday, when police arrested 20 people who clashed before he appeared at the court.
Lawyers representing families of the victims demanded to hear the testimony of Army Chief Field Marshal Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi, former vice president Omar Suleiman and the president's wife Suzanne Mubarak.
According to Al Arabiya, one witness said that a police general and 15 of his aides fired at protesters from the American University in Cairo. Another witness said that the shooting came upon the instructions of former interior minister Habib al-Adli and his assistants.
One of the lawyers representing families of victims voiced frustration with the witnesses at Monday’s session -- attended by Mubarak lying on a hospital trolley in the defendant’s cage -- saying they had given different answers before the trial.
“They have changed the testimonies they previously gave to the prosecution which makes them unreliable,” Amir Salem said, reflecting a view held by other lawyers representing victims’ families.
“We will have the testimonies of another four witnesses also from the police but they could be from different departments,” he said of Wednesday’s session.
Egyptians who helped oust the 83-year-old Mubarak after 30 years in power have regularly gathered at the court on the outskirts of Cairo demanding swift justice for about 850 people killed in the uprising.
Supporters of Mubarak, who has been in hospital since April and attended all three court sessions on a stretcher, have scuffled with them.
Mubarak, the first Arab head of state to be tried in person since unrest erupted across the Middle East this year, is charged with conspiring to kill protesters and “inciting” some officers to use live ammunition.
A top police officer told the court on Monday he was not aware of any order to fire on protesters although he said police were given live ammunition to protect the Interior Ministry.
General Hussein Saeed Mohamed Moussa, in charge of communications for state security, said he believed the decision to issue arms was taken by a police officer, Ahmed Ramzi, who is on trial alongside Mubarak and former Interior Minister Habib al-Adli.
Two other police witnesses said they were told to exercise “self restraint” during the uprising.
Scuffles erupted outside the court at each of the three earlier sessions in the trial which began on August 3. At the latest session on Monday, Mubarak’s opponents hurled stones at lines of police, who charged them.
Many Egyptians are angry with the police for the tough tactics they used during the uprising. Egyptian witnesses have said officers used tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannon and live ammunition against demonstrators during the revolt.
“Our family members are gone. We carried their bodies, drenched in blood. If Mubarak is acquitted, you know what it means? The country's going to face more destruction,” Ola Ahmed, who had two cousins killed in the uprising, said on Monday.
A fight broke out inside the courtroom on Monday between supporters and opponents of the former president, prompting the police to step in.
Egypt’s justice minister agreed to let five Kuwaiti lawyers join the Mubarak defense team, the state news agency MENA said.
The Kuwaiti lawyers, who were not allowed into the last session, have said their decision to volunteer for Mubarak’s defense was in recognition for his role in supporting a US-led coalition that drove Iraqi forces out of the Gulf Arab state in 1991.
“They have changed the testimonies they previously gave to the prosecution which makes them unreliable,” Amir Salem said, reflecting a view held by other lawyers representing victims’ families.
“We will have the testimonies of another four witnesses also from the police but they could be from different departments,” he said of Wednesday’s session.
Egyptians who helped oust the 83-year-old Mubarak after 30 years in power have regularly gathered at the court on the outskirts of Cairo demanding swift justice for about 850 people killed in the uprising.
Supporters of Mubarak, who has been in hospital since April and attended all three court sessions on a stretcher, have scuffled with them.
Mubarak, the first Arab head of state to be tried in person since unrest erupted across the Middle East this year, is charged with conspiring to kill protesters and “inciting” some officers to use live ammunition.
A top police officer told the court on Monday he was not aware of any order to fire on protesters although he said police were given live ammunition to protect the Interior Ministry.
General Hussein Saeed Mohamed Moussa, in charge of communications for state security, said he believed the decision to issue arms was taken by a police officer, Ahmed Ramzi, who is on trial alongside Mubarak and former Interior Minister Habib al-Adli.
Two other police witnesses said they were told to exercise “self restraint” during the uprising.
Scuffles erupted outside the court at each of the three earlier sessions in the trial which began on August 3. At the latest session on Monday, Mubarak’s opponents hurled stones at lines of police, who charged them.
Many Egyptians are angry with the police for the tough tactics they used during the uprising. Egyptian witnesses have said officers used tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannon and live ammunition against demonstrators during the revolt.
“Our family members are gone. We carried their bodies, drenched in blood. If Mubarak is acquitted, you know what it means? The country's going to face more destruction,” Ola Ahmed, who had two cousins killed in the uprising, said on Monday.
A fight broke out inside the courtroom on Monday between supporters and opponents of the former president, prompting the police to step in.
Egypt’s justice minister agreed to let five Kuwaiti lawyers join the Mubarak defense team, the state news agency MENA said.
The Kuwaiti lawyers, who were not allowed into the last session, have said their decision to volunteer for Mubarak’s defense was in recognition for his role in supporting a US-led coalition that drove Iraqi forces out of the Gulf Arab state in 1991.
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