Mubarak and sons plead not guilty

Egypt's ousted president Hosni Mubarak and his two sons pleaded "not guilty" to charges of murder and corruption, in the historic trial on Wednesday of the former strongman that has gripped the nation.

"All these charges, I deny them completely," Mubarak said from his stretcher in the dock, denying charges of premeditated murder of anti-regime protesters that toppled the regime and fraud.

His sons Alaa and Gamal also pleaded not guilty to fraud charges.

The trial of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, and his two sons, has been adjourned until August 15, Judge Ahmed Refaat said, adding that the former strongman will stay in a Cairo hospital until then.

Meanwhile, the trial of ex-interior minister Habib al-Adly and his six deputies will resume on Thursday, Refaat said.

The sons appeared to take turns to shield their father from the television cameras, and leaned down regularly to talk to him.

The Mubaraks are being tried along with ex-interior minister Habib al-Adly and six former security chiefs.

The trial was a key demand of protesters who took to the streets on January 25 to demand the downfall of the Mubarak regime.

The resignation of Mubarak -- who ruled for 30 years with an iron fist -- sent shockwaves across the region.

 
Lawyer of Egypt victims seeks death for ex-interior minister

A lawyer acting for families of those killed in Egypt's uprising said on Wednesday the former interior minister was ordered by Hosni Mubarak to kill demonstrators and demanded execution for the ex-minister.

"He took orders from the ousted president to kill the protesters ... We ask for implementation of the top punishment for the accused," the lawyer told the judge when referring to Adli's case.

Former Interior Minister Habib al-Adli is being tried alongside Mubarak, his sons and other defendants.

Another lawyer demanded that Mubarak be moved on a permanent basis from a hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh on the Red Sea where he has been since April to Torah prison in Cairo where other defendants are held.

Mubarak wheeled out of court during break

Egypt's Hosni Mubarak was wheeled out of the court room and other defendants left the cage where they had been for a court recess on Wednesday in the case in which they are charged with involvement in the killing of protesters.     

The court is expected to resume business shortly.     

Mubarak was lying in a bed during the start of his trial.

Mubarak loyalists, foes clash outside court

Fresh clashes erupted on Wednesday between loyalists and foes of Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak who was being tried on murder charges, an AFP photographer said.

Pro-Mubarak protesters who had gathered outside the Cairo Police Academy -- where the former strongman was on trial with his sons, the ex-interior minister and six security chiefs -- clashed with his opponents as the judge ordered a short recess.

The crowd, including families of victims who died during the uprising that toppled Mubarak, had been watching the trial on a large screen outside the Police Academy when Judge Ahmed Refaat adjourned the session for a short break.

Security forces intervened to separate both sides amid a highly charged atmosphere.

There had already been confrontations when the trial started, as anti-Mubarak protesters and loyalists threw stones at each other.

The court session is expected to resume later on Wednesday.

Mubarak, who was flown in from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, appeared in the dock on a stretcher along with his two sons Alaa and Gamal, ex-interior minister Habib al-Adly and six security chiefs, on charges of fraud and murder.


Mubarak leaves hospital for trial, says official

Earlier, ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak left the hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh where he was in custody and has started to make his way to Cairo where he is due to face trial.

"Mubarak is being transported by ambulance to Sharm el-Sheikh airport in preparation for his move to Cairo," state television said.

Mubarak has been in hospital since April after he reportedly suffered a heart attack during questioning into accusations of fraud and murder.

The former president will stand trial with his two sons Alaa and Gamal, former interior minister Habib al-Adly, six security chiefs and businessman Hussein Salem who will be tried in absentia.

The trial, which is expected to start in Cairo at 0700 GMT, comes six months after protesters took to the streets for 18 consecutive days to demand Mubarak's resignation.

The January-February uprising left more than 800 people dead and upwards of 6,000 injured.
 

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