Mubarak Retrial to Hear Egypt Security Chiefs' Evidence
Egypt's ailing ex-president Hosni Mubarak was back in court Saturday on charges of complicity in the deaths of protesters in 2011, with former officials to be questioned over his alleged role.
The 85-year-old former strongman, wearing his trademark sunglasses, was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair for the hearing from a military hospital where he is being detained.
It was the seventh hearing in the retrial of Mubarak and his security commanders over the killings of hundreds of protesters during the 2011 uprising that overthrew him.
Mubarak was placed under house arrest last month after his lawyer successfully argued that his detention had gone on too long.
Although a technicality, the decision to release him was fraught with symbolism, coming after the ouster and detention of his Islamist successor Mohammed Morsi.
Interim prime minister Hazem al-Beblawi ordered Mubarak to be detained immediately after his release.
A court had convicted and sentenced him to life in prison in June last year for complicity in the deaths of protesters, but a retrial was ordered in January after he appealed.
Lawyers for Mubarak, his interior minister and six security commanders now argue that much of the killing during the uprising was carried out by Islamists linked to Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement.
They demanded the testimony of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the general who overthrew Morsi and who had served as Mubarak's military intelligence chief.
The court on Saturday summoned a former head of General Intelligence Services, Murad Muwafi, army general Hassan al-Ruwaini and two other former security commanders.
They will testify in camera for "national security" reasons, the court said.
The court adjourned the trial to October 19, when it will begin hearing to their testimony.
Other top military and police commanders had testified in Mubarak's first trial, largely exonerating him from wrongdoing.
Former prime minister Atef Obeid was also summoned to testify on corruption charges against Mubarak and his two sons Alaa and Gamal, who were also in court on Saturday.
Mubarak faces an array of charges, including complicity in the deaths of some of the 850 people killed during the 18-day uprising that ended his 30-year reign.
Outside the court, around 20 Mubarak supporters had gathered for Saturday's session.
Along with his picture, they also held up portraits of Sisi, who now serves as defense minister after formally handing power to an interim government.
Mubarak's ouster was a pivotal moment in regional democratic upheavals that in Egypt led to Morsi's Islamist government, which itself lasted only a year before a military coup.
Since his ouster on July 3, Morsi has been in custody in a secret location, ahead of a trial on charges of inciting the killings of protesters in clashes outside the presidential palace in December 2012.
For Mubarak's supporters and the much vilified police force, Morsi's ouster came as vindication.
His Muslim Brotherhood had played a key role in overthrowing Mubarak, but is increasingly accused of having used violence during the uprising.
Meanwhile, most Mubarak-era police officers who have been tried for allegedly killing protesters during the revolt were either acquitted or received light sentences.
Since his first court appearance in August 2011, Mubarak has been treated for a range of ailments including a heart condition and depression.
He was even reported to have slipped into a coma last year.
His lawyer Farid al-Deeb recently told Agence France Presse that Mubarak's health had improved considerably.
Source: Agence France Presse
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