Testimony provided by former Vice President Omar Suleiman confirmed involvement of ousted President Hosni Mubarak in killing protesters, the state-run daily Al-Akhbar reported on Thursday. According to Suleiman, Mubarak ordered the armed forces and the intelligence apparatus to monitor the protests, the paper mentioned. He also received reports every hour from former interior minister Habib al-Adly on developments of the situation. The prosecution questioned Suleiman in April on shooting protesters during the 25 January revolution as well as the wealth of the ousted president and his family. In a failed attempt to contain anger of protesters calling for his resignation, Mubarak designated Suleiman, who presided over the Egyptian intelligence apparatus for almost 20 years, as vice president on 29 January. Suleiman claimed during investigations that Mubarak was aware of every shot fired at Tahrir Square protesters, along with the number of martyrs and injured including children. Mubarak also knew of the violence adopted by the Interior Ministry in dispersing protesters by force and running over people with vehicles, according to Suleiman. Mubarak did not oppose shooting protesters, said Suleiman, adding that he did not give orders to stop the bloodshed. The public prosecution on Tuesday referred Mubarak to criminal court. The former president, who was ousted on 11 February, faces charges of killing protesters and acquiring wealth illegally. According to estimates by the Egyptian Health Ministry, around 850 persons were killed and another 6000 were injured during the 18-day uprising that preceded Mubarak's resignation.
