While investigations are continuing as to who killed over 600 peaceful protesters, Nesmahar Sayed reports that much information has yet to emerge Former minister of interior Habib El-Adli and four of his assistants, charged with killing demonstrators during the revolt which began on 25 January, will face a criminal court on 24 April. The five are accused of assisting in and inciting the deaths of protesters after they ordered the use of live ammunition in several governorates. El-Adli has refused to take responsibility for issuing orders to security forces to use live ammunition against pro- democracy protesters on 28 January, the deadliest day of the protests. El-Adli's aides have also denied ordering security forces to shoot to kill. Cairo's former security chief Ismail El-Shaaer; former head of central security forces Ahmed Ramzi; former director of general security Adli Fayed; and former director of state security investigation Hassan Abdel-Rahman all claim they did not have the authority to issue such an order. Abdel-Rahman, who was fired from his position more than two weeks ago, claims to have submitted a report to El-Adli advising him not to attack the protesters, arguing that "there should be a political rather than security response to pro-democracy demands." Adel Qoura, head of a fact-finding committee, said an official, final report will be released in a few days. The report will include the killing of the protesters, the stealing of antiquities from the Egyptian Museum and the now infamous "camel battle" that pitted pro and anti-Mubarak demonstrators in violent clashes in Tahrir Square on 2 February. At the same time, committee members have visited a number of prisons investigating how inmates managed to escape on 28 January. An initial report by the committee said it could find no evidence implicating the Ministry of Interior to snipers. Eyewitnesses say snipers stationed on the rooftops of buildings in Tahrir Square and other places in Cairo shot and killed several demonstrators on 28 January and 2 February. Although the number of deaths is over 600 the report said several policemen had said under questioning that they shot only thugs and protesters who attacked police stations. Mahmoud Wagdi, the former interior minister sworn in during Mubarak's last days, said weapons that were described by the eyewitnesses as being used against the demonstrators are not in the possession of the Interior Ministry. In his daily column in the newspaper Al-Shorouk, prominent writer Fahmy Howeidy said "such results open the door for more investigation to solve the mystery of the snipers." Snipers were reportedly the biggest reason behind the death of many protesters in demonstrations which erupted across the nation, not just in Tahrir Square. Ahmed Ramzi, the former director of Central Security Forces, insisted that he did not open fire against the protesters. A policeman who preferred to remain anonymous told Al-Ahram Weekly that Ramzi documented the arming of the forces on that day before going to the streets. "No live ammunition was taken by the forces," the source said. While eyewitnesses insist that live ammunition was used against the protesters, the source said that many violations could have occurred on 28 January, especially if thugs were among the protesters. "The only weapon that was taken with the police that day was their private 9mm pistol. It can kill instantly if the distance in which the bullet travels is short. "Much evidence will be revealed in due course," the source added. "On that day there were many foreigners on the scene. But on 2 February, policemen were not present after having deserted the streets on 28 January. So, the big question is: Who were the snipers on 28 January and 2 February?"
