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Mubarak trial: Egypt's ex-president denies all charges Mubarak trial: Egypt's ex-president denies all charges
(about 1 hour later)
  
Egypt's ex-President Hosni Mubarak has denied charges of corruption and ordering the killing of protesters, on the opening day of his trial in Cairo.Egypt's ex-President Hosni Mubarak has denied charges of corruption and ordering the killing of protesters, on the opening day of his trial in Cairo.
He was wheeled on a hospital bed into a cage in court to the astonishment of onlookers outside, correspondents say.He was wheeled on a hospital bed into a cage in court to the astonishment of onlookers outside, correspondents say.
The 83-year-old is being tried with his sons, who also deny charges against them, ex-Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six other former officials.The 83-year-old is being tried with his sons, who also deny charges against them, ex-Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six other former officials.
Mr Mubarak was forced from office by mass demonstrations in February.Mr Mubarak was forced from office by mass demonstrations in February.
The charge of ordering the killing of protesters carries the death penalty.The charge of ordering the killing of protesters carries the death penalty.
Some 3,000 soldiers and police were drafted in to maintain order at the police academy for the first day of the trial of Mr Mubarak and his sons, which has now been adjourned until 15 August. The trial of Mr al-Adly and the six other security officials is due to resume on Thursday.
'Calm'
Mr Mubarak's trial 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.
The way the courtroom was arranged, with a heavily-barred dock set in a distant corner of the huge room, meant that scarcely anyone could really see Hosni Mubarak or the co-accused, including his two sons. But a well-placed television camera in the court did manage to pick him up and everyone could see the extraordinary pictures.The way the courtroom was arranged, with a heavily-barred dock set in a distant corner of the huge room, meant that scarcely anyone could really see Hosni Mubarak or the co-accused, including his two sons. But a well-placed television camera in the court did manage to pick him up and everyone could see the extraordinary pictures.
Mr Mubarak was not standing up but lying on a bed, his eyes as sharp and shrewd as ever, making occasional gestures and thoroughly aware of what was going on.Mr Mubarak was not standing up but lying on a bed, his eyes as sharp and shrewd as ever, making occasional gestures and thoroughly aware of what was going on.
At the sight of this, there was first silence in the packed courtroom, and then an audible intake of breath. I had the impression that it came not just from the journalists but from the rows of lawyers, and perhaps from the three judges themselves.At the sight of this, there was first silence in the packed courtroom, and then an audible intake of breath. I had the impression that it came not just from the journalists but from the rows of lawyers, and perhaps from the three judges themselves.
For the first time ever an Arab country had, of its own volition - not after a foreign invasion as in Iraq - put its former ruler on trial.For the first time ever an Arab country had, of its own volition - not after a foreign invasion as in Iraq - put its former ruler on trial.
Some 3,000 soldiers and police were drafted in to maintain order at the police academy for the first day of the trial of Mr Mubarak and his sons, which has now been adjourned until 15 August.
An estimated 600 people are thought to be watching the proceedings in and outside the courtroom, with millions more watching on TV. The trial of Mr al-Adly and the six other security officials is due to resume on Thursday.
Up until the last moment there was doubt whether Mr Mubarak would actually appear in the court, say correspondents. 'Calm'
His defence team claim he is seriously ill and there was speculation they might negotiate for him to remain in the hospital wing of the police academy while the proceedings took place in the courtroom. Up until the last moment there was doubt whether Mr Mubarak would actually appear in the court, correspondents say.
His defence team claimed he was seriously ill and there had been speculation they might negotiate for him to remain in the hospital wing of the police academy while the proceedings took place in the courtroom.
But Mr Mubarak was wheeled into the cage from where he observed proceedings with the other defendants, including his two sons Alaa and Gamal.But Mr Mubarak was wheeled into the cage from where he observed proceedings with the other defendants, including his two sons Alaa and Gamal.
Judge Ahmed Rifaat opened the session by asking for order, saying "the civilised Egyptian people require calm... to make sure that the mission of the court is carried out fully so we can please God almighty and our consciences". Judge Ahmed Rifaat opened the session by asking for order, saying: "The civilised Egyptian people require calm... to make sure that the mission of the court is carried out fully so we can please God almighty and our consciences".
Despite that, the court session was at times unruly, with lawyers jostling and clamouring to be heard by the judge.Despite that, the court session was at times unruly, with lawyers jostling and clamouring to be heard by the judge.
Judge Rifaat is a respected jurist seen as independent of the former regime, says state newspaper al-Ahram.
The charges against the Mubaraks were read out, and Hosni Mubarak and his sons each denied them.The charges against the Mubaraks were read out, and Hosni Mubarak and his sons each denied them.
"Yes, I am here," the former president said, raising his hand slightly when the judge asked him to identify himself and enter a plea. "I deny all these accusations completely.""Yes, I am here," the former president said, raising his hand slightly when the judge asked him to identify himself and enter a plea. "I deny all these accusations completely."
Earlier, defence lawyers said they needed a delay to proceedings to consider 4,000 pages of evidence. There has been speculation that the case will be adjourned, although the judge has been previously quoted as vowing that the trial would proceed speedily.
Judge Rifaat is a respected jurist seen as independent of the former regime, says state newspaper al-Ahram.
Everybody was in shock as the trial began, says the BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, because this was the moment that no-one in Egypt - maybe all of the Middle East - expected to see.Everybody was in shock as the trial began, says the BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, because this was the moment that no-one in Egypt - maybe all of the Middle East - expected to see.
There was amazement and silence from the people gathered outside as they watched a screen broadcasting proceedings, our correspondent says. There was amazement and silence from the people gathered outside as they watched a screen broadcasting proceedings, our correspondent adds.
"I am delighted that I see them in a cage. I feel that my son's soul is finally starting to be at rest and that his blood will cool," Saeeda Hassan Abdul Raouf, the mother of a 22-year-old protester who was among those killed in the uprising, told the Associated Press outside the trial venue."I am delighted that I see them in a cage. I feel that my son's soul is finally starting to be at rest and that his blood will cool," Saeeda Hassan Abdul Raouf, the mother of a 22-year-old protester who was among those killed in the uprising, told the Associated Press outside the trial venue.
One of the protest leaders, film-maker Ahmed Rasheed, told the BBC that across Cairo people had gathered around television screens in shopping malls and shops, watching and arguing as the trial was broadcast. One of the protest leaders, film-maker Ahmed Rasheed, told the BBC that across Cairo people had gathered around television screens in shops and cafes, watching and arguing as the trial was broadcast.
"I was quite overwhelmed to see the scene taking place, I was very pessimistic about this. I didn't believe he was going to show up in court.""I was quite overwhelmed to see the scene taking place, I was very pessimistic about this. I didn't believe he was going to show up in court."
An estimated 600 people were thought to be watching the proceedings in and outside the courtroom, with millions more watching on TV.
Earlier, scuffles broke out between hundreds of supporters and opponents of the ex-president, with hundreds of white-clad police and riot police with shields and helmets intervening to separate demonstrators hurling stones and bottles at each other.Earlier, scuffles broke out between hundreds of supporters and opponents of the ex-president, with hundreds of white-clad police and riot police with shields and helmets intervening to separate demonstrators hurling stones and bottles at each other.
ScepticalSceptical
Mr Mubarak was flown to Cairo from hospital in the coastal resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he had been detained and receiving treatment since April for a heart condition. Mr Mubarak was flown to Cairo from hospital in the coastal resort town of Sharm al-Sheikh, where he had been detained and receiving treatment since April for a heart condition.
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.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. Our correspondent says many Egyptians are sceptical about this.Mr Mubarak's lawyer insists the former president is seriously ill. Our correspondent says many Egyptians are sceptical about this.
An official quoted by the state news agency, Mena, said Mr Mubarak would stay at a hospital within the police academy compound during the trial to ensure he could attend the sessions.An official quoted by the state news agency, Mena, said Mr Mubarak would stay at a hospital within the police academy compound during the trial to ensure he could attend the sessions.
Over the past month there have been renewed sit-in protests in Tahrir Square by people angry with the slow pace of change in the country.Over the past month there have been renewed sit-in protests in Tahrir Square by people angry 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.On Monday and Tuesday, police backed by army troops moved in to clear the last few protesters from square.
The former Interior Minister, Mr Adly, has already been sentenced to 12 years in jail for money-laundering and profiteering.The former Interior Minister, Mr Adly, has already been sentenced to 12 years in jail for money-laundering and profiteering.