CAIRO: Egypt's trial of the century was adjourned on early Wednesday afternoon to August 15. The case against former President Hosni Mubarak and his sons charged with killing protesters during the January uprising that ousted their regime, has captured the countries attention. Televisions and radios across the country were tuned in on Wednesday morning as the former president was rolled into the courtroom's cage in a hospital bed. “It is so amazing to think this is actually happening,” one viewer at a packed Cairo cafe told Bikyamasr.com. “I want justice and want to see this happen,” he added. The case of Hosni Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal was adjourned until August 15, but the case against former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and his aides, also charged with killing protesters, will return to court on Thursday. Judge Ahmed Rifaat said that the 83-year-old Mubarak, who has been suffering poor health, will be transferred to the International Medical Health Center in the Egyptian capital as he awaits his second court appearance. Divisions in public opinion, despite a group of supporters in front of the Police Academy in Cairo where the trial is taking place, appear to be somewhat small. Across the country, people are not disappointed that the former president is standing trial. “He ruined our country and did horrible things, so why wouldn't we want to see him get the justice he deserves,” said cafe waiter Yussif, who added that he was pleased to see the judge refer to the former president as “mister.” Before the trial began, there were tense moments outside the courtroom, when pro-Mubarak supporters allegedly began a violent confrontation with families of those killed in the January uprising by throwing rocks at them. The military intervened to end the clash, but the country's health ministry reported at least 53 people were injured in the violence. 10 people were transferred to a nearby hospital to have their wounds treated, the ministry said. One lawyer asked the court to do DNA samples on the elder Mubarak as he argued the person on the bed inside the court's cage was not Mubarak and that “this is part of an American and Zionist scheme.” Another lawyer asked the judge to take the finger prints of Alaa, Gamal and Hosni Muabrak to conduct research related to any criminal history. All three Mubaraks pleaded not guilty and denied the charges against them. The case is likely to continue to take the focus of Egypt's political situation over the next few weeks as Egyptians remain hopeful that the trial will bring them some justice over the violence and death that was brought down on them, allegedly by the orders of the elder Mubarak. At least 840 people were killed in the 18 days of protests that ultimately ousted the president and his government on February 11, leaving the country's military in charge. ** Manar Ammar contributed to this report. BM
