CAIRO: Ten Kuwaiti lawyers have volunteered to join ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's defense team, the state-run MENA news agency reported Friday. The lawyers announced they will be joining the trial in its next session this Monday. Mubarak, who enjoys popularity among gulf countries is especially popular in Kuwait for supporting the small kingdom during the Iraqi invasion in 1991. Mubarak sent thousands of Egyptian troops to engage in combat against the Iraqis as part of the international coalition at the time led by the United States. Faisal al-Otibi, head of the Kuwaiti committee to defend Mubarak told media that he held talks with the Egyptian side and they ensured him that the approval is guaranteed. “I spoke with head of the Egyptian lawyers volunteer team, Yossri Abdel Razeq and he told me he has obtained an approval from the head of the court to attend and participate in the upcoming session and once we get a copy of the document, we will travel to Egypt,” Otibi told the Kuwaiti Alqabas newspaper. 18 days of protests that started on January 25 toppled Mubarak's 30 year-rule and the former president is facing charges of power abuse and the killing of Egyptian protesters. Police forces opened fire at protesters killing at least 1000 people. Snipers were also used from rooftops around Cairo's Tahrir square, the focal point of the uprising. The news agency said that around 1700 lawyers have volunteered to defend Mubarak, but the number had to be lowered to 50 based on court orders. The defense team is led by veteran lawyer Farid al-Deeb, who has tried to throw the responsibility on former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly, claiming he acted alone in giving orders to the police to shoot at protesters. Joining Mubarak on trial are his two sons, who face charges of corruption, as well as the former interior minister, who is accused of giving orders to shoot protesters. Adly denied the charges, saying he himself was executing orders from the head of state, namely Muabark. The trial has captivated the nation and has been televised, but the court has now ordered the stopping of airing the sessions without giving a reason. Experts say it is due to the defendants' lawyers not committing to the court order. BM
