Ten Kuwaiti lawyers will join the defense team for Egypt's ousted President Hosni Mubarak in his trial on charges of corruption and authorizing the killing of protesters, Egyptian state news agency MENA reported on Friday. The Kuwaitis will be coming on board for the third session of Mubarak's trial, which is scheduled for Monday, MENA said without providing reasons for the move. Analysts said close ties between Kuwait and the Mubarak family, as well as appreciation for Egypt's support of Kuwait after it was invaded by Iraq in 1990, prompted the lawyers' decision. "The Kuwaiti lawyers justified their participation as a gesture of gratitude to Mubarak's support in liberating Kuwait ... during the war with Iraq," said Sami al-Faraj, head of the Kuwait Center for Strategic and Future Studies. Gulf governments have been bothered by the trial of Mubarak, who they regarded as a friend to other rulers in the region and a pillar of Arab political power during his tenure, which lasted for thirty years. "All the Gulf countries like and respect Mubarak, and are sad to see this trial, but in Kuwait, people really appreciate how he led the talks to liberate the country and that's something they will never forget," Faraj added. No one from Mubarak's current defense team was available for comment. The addition of the ten Kuwaitis brings Mubarak's defense team total to 1700 lawyers, of which only 50 will be allowed to attend the trial sessions, MENA said. Mubarak, who was forced to step down in February after weeks of popular protests, is standing trial on charges of authorizing the use of force against the some 850 demonstrators who were killed during the revolution. He also faces charges of corruption and abuse of power.
