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| Trial of Egypt's ex-leader Hosni Mubarak trial to open | Trial of Egypt's ex-leader Hosni Mubarak trial to open |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The trial of Egypt's ex-President Hosni Mubarak, who was forced from office by mass demonstrations in February, is due to start in the capital, Cairo. | The trial of Egypt's ex-President Hosni Mubarak, who was forced from office by mass demonstrations in February, is due to start in the capital, Cairo. |
| He is charged with corruption and ordering the killing of protesters - a charge that carries the death penalty. | He is charged with corruption and ordering the killing of protesters - a charge that carries the death penalty. |
| His sons Alaa and Gamal, ex-Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six former other officials will also be in court. | His sons Alaa and Gamal, ex-Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six former other officials will also be in court. |
| Some 3,000 soldiers and police have been drafted in to maintain order at Cairo's police academy for the trial. | Some 3,000 soldiers and police have been drafted in to maintain order at Cairo's police academy for the trial. |
| Spectators | Spectators |
| It was originally going to be held in a Cairo convention centre but the authorities moved the venue to a temporary courtroom set up inside the academy because of security concerns. | It was originally going to be held in a Cairo convention centre but the authorities moved the venue to a temporary courtroom set up inside the academy because of security concerns. |
| A cage for the defendants has been built and an estimated 600 people are expected to watch the proceedings. | A cage for the defendants has been built and an estimated 600 people are expected to watch the proceedings. |
| Mr Mubarak, 83, has been under arrest at a hospital in the coastal resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh since April. | Mr Mubarak, 83, has been under arrest at a hospital in the coastal resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh since April. |
| He will is to be flown to the police academy just before the session. Early on Wednesday, Egyptian TV reported that a plane that would transfer Mr Mubarak had landed in Sharm el-Sheikh. | |
| The former Egyptian leader resigned on 11 February, after 18 days of protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square, in which some 850 people were killed. | |
| Mr Mubarak's lawyer insists the former president is seriously ill. | Mr Mubarak's lawyer insists the former president is seriously ill. |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says many Egyptians are sceptical about this and believe the military do not want to see the former president humiliated. | The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says many Egyptians are sceptical about this and believe the military do not want to see the former president humiliated. |
| It is a very tense moment for Egypt, and if Mr Mubarak does not appear in court there could be serious confrontations on the streets, our correspondent adds. | It is a very tense moment for Egypt, and if Mr Mubarak does not appear in court there could be serious confrontations on the streets, our correspondent adds. |
| Over the last month there have been renewed sit-in protests in Tahrir Square by people fed up with the slow pace of change in the country. | Over the last month there have been renewed sit-in protests in Tahrir Square by people fed up with the slow pace of change in the country. |
| Among their demands to the military council in charge has been the call for speedier trial for former regime officials. | Among their demands to the military council in charge has been the call for speedier trial for former regime officials. |
| On Monday and Tuesday, police backed by army troops moved in to clear the last few protesters from square. | |
| The former interior minister, who is going on trial with Mr Mubarak on Wednesday, was sentenced to 12 years in jail in May for money-laundering and profiteering. | The former interior minister, who is going on trial with Mr Mubarak on Wednesday, was sentenced to 12 years in jail in May for money-laundering and profiteering. |