CAIRO: The trial of Egypt's ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak got underway again on Wednesday, with Mubarak's defense team calling the trial “illegal,” shifting blame to Egypt's army for the deaths of protesters from the January 25 uprisings that toppled the regime of the former President. Mubarak's chief lawyer, Farid al-Deeb, said that protesters were killed only after the president ordered the army to impose a curfew on January 28. “The police could not have shot at the protesters after the army became responsible. To do this, the police would have to get clear and written orders from the army commanders. There is no proof this happened,” al-Deeb alleged. He also explained that the former ruler should be tried in one of Egypt's military courts, in light of his long military career. A military trial would show more leniency for Mubarak as he is charged with ordering the killing of peaceful protesters during the popular uprising that ousted his regime in February of 2011. On Tuesday, is defense team said there was “no evidence” linking Mubarak to orders to shoot protesters during the 18 days of protests that led to his downfall. Al-Deeb praised Mubarak, and said the court could not convict the man activists and families of those killed in January and February last year say is responsible for the bloodshed. “It is like saying the commander of a military doesn't hold responsibility when his soldiers kill people,” said Ahmed, a brother of one of those killed in the uprising. He told Bikyamasr.com that “for the lawyers to say there is no evidence is to say he wasn't in control of the country. If that is the case, then who was running things?” Some 1,000 people were killed in the massive street protests that began on January 25, 2011, and lasted until February 11, when then-Vice-President Omar Suleiman announced Mubarak was stepping down as president and the military was taking power. Activists and families of the victims of the uprising have demanded justice, telling Bikyamasr.com from the court they “expect Mubarak to face the same fate as our loved ones for what he did to this country.” There are worries that anything less than the death penalty could spark massive outrage ahead of January 25, when activists hope to galvanize thousands for anti-military protests. “I don't know what would happen if he is not found guilty and sentenced to death,” said Mona Omar, a young 22-year-old law student who has been assisting families in delivering testimony to legal counsel. She told Bikyamasr.com that “if Mubarak is not put to death, I think the country will revolt and the military knows this so it will be interesting to watch. There is a lot of anger on the ground. I feel it.” Mubarak, his former minister of interior Habib al-Adly and 6 top aides are on trial for killing protesters during the 18 days of the popular uprising that ousted the president and brought the former regime down. They also face charges of financial corruption and importing Egyptian gas to Israel for prices lower than the international rate. Mubarak, who is reportedly suffering from severe depression, was flown in a private jet to the court from his private, highly secured medical wing at the International Medical Center, where he is being treated instead of the prison hospital, whose defense claim is not ready for his “condition.” The committee assigned by the attorney general to assess Mubarak's condition recommended that he stay at the same place, “as he could be in danger of a stroke or a heart attack” if he is to be moved. The army and police are cooperating in securing the trial in unprecedented security measures to make sure Mubarak is safe. Mubarak's two sons, Gamal and Alaa, are also on trial for financial corruption and are accused of using their positions as the president's sons to seal illegal deals, raising the family's fortune to tens of millions of dollars. Mubarak was positioning his son Gamal to succeed him in ruling the country, fueling public anger and protests over the past 7 years in opposition to the alleged power transfer plan. ** Joseph Mayton and Manar Ammar contributed to this report. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/quVFp Tags: featured, Hosni Mubarak, Mubarak Trial Section: Egypt, Latest News
