CAIRO: The Cairo Criminal Court has ordered a media gag on the testimony of three high-level officials summoned as witnesses in the murder trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Presiding Judge Ahmed Refaat decided during today's session to ban any media outlet from publishing or telecasting witness testimony during next week's trial sessions. Witnesses will include: Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi, head of Egypt's ruling military council; Omar Suleiman, intelligence chief and former vice president; and army Chief of Staff Samy Anan; Minister of Interior Mansour el-Issawy; and former Minister of Interior Mahmoud Wagdi. Mubarak's trial will resume Sunday, September 11, when Tantawi will give his testimony. Anan will testify on Monday, Suleiman on Tuesday, Issawy on Wednesday, and Wadgy on Thursday. The trials will be attended only by the lawyers of the defendants and the families of the martyrs of Egypt's January 25 Revolution. Mubarak is charged with killing demonstrators during the revolution, illegal profiteering, exporting Egyptian natural gas to Israel at lower than international market prices, and wasting public funds. Mubarak's sons Alaa and Gamal, former Minister of Interior Habib al-Adly, and six of al-Adly's assistants are also defendants in the case.
