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Trial of ex-President Hosni Mubarak opens in Egypt Trial of ex-President Hosni Mubarak opens in Egypt
(40 minutes later)
The trial of Egypt's ex-President Hosni Mubarak, who was forced from office by mass demonstrations in February, has begun in Cairo.The trial of Egypt's ex-President Hosni Mubarak, who was forced from office by mass demonstrations in February, has begun in Cairo.
Mr Mubarak was wheeled into a cage in the court at the police academy on a hospital bed to cheers from opponents.Mr Mubarak was wheeled into a cage in the court at the police academy on a hospital bed to cheers from opponents.
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 other former officials also face charges.His sons Alaa and Gamal, ex-Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six other former officials also face charges.
Some 3,000 soldiers and police have been drafted in to maintain order at the police academy for the trial.Some 3,000 soldiers and police have been drafted in to maintain order at the police academy for the trial.
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.
The main charge Hosni Mubarak is facing is the killing of protesters - and that's going to be hard to prove. It is clear that around 850 protesters were killed, and probably by some sort of government agents.The main charge Hosni Mubarak is facing is the killing of protesters - and that's going to be hard to prove. It is clear that around 850 protesters were killed, and probably by some sort of government agents.
But it's not clear who gave the orders, or whether there are written or spoken commands that can be proved.But it's not clear who gave the orders, or whether there are written or spoken commands that can be proved.
It wasn't done by uniformed officers in full sight, but by gunmen operating at night time from the rooftops of buildings. Pinning that command responsibility on Mr Mubarak is quite a difficult prospect.It wasn't done by uniformed officers in full sight, but by gunmen operating at night time from the rooftops of buildings. Pinning that command responsibility on Mr Mubarak is quite a difficult prospect.
A cage for the defendants has been built, with an estimated 600 people expected to watch the proceedings in and outside the courtroom, and millions more on television.A cage for the defendants has been built, with an estimated 600 people expected to watch the proceedings in and outside the courtroom, and millions more on television.
'Calm''Calm'
Mr Mubarak, 83, was wheeled into the cage from where he observed proceedings with the other defendants, including his two sons. Up until the last moment there was doubt whether Mr Mubarak would actually appear in the court, say correspondents.
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.
But Mr Mubarak, 83, was wheeled into the cage from where he observed proceedings with the other defendants, including his two sons.
Judge Ahmed Refaat 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 Refaat 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".
He went on to hear submissions from defence lawyers, who said they needed a delay to proceedings to consider 4,000 pages of evidence. The charges against the Mubaraks were read out and Hosni Mubarak and his sons each denied them.
The judge himself is attempting to pull all the cases together into one trial, but this may be opposed by the defence. 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.
Observers said it was likely the case would be adjourned, although the judge has been previously quoted as vowing that the trial would proceed speedily. Judge Refaat 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 that has been erected to show proceedings, our correspondent says. There was amazement and silence from the people gathered outside as they watched a screen broadcasting proceedings, our correspondent says.
Earlier outside the trial venue, 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. "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 Abdel-Raouf, the mother of a 22-year-old protester who was among those killed in the uprising, told AP news agency outside the trial venue.
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.
Sceptical
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 el-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.
"I don't think anyone has any illusions at the moment that the trial would actually be a real, fair trial," protester Nariman Yousseff told the BBC."I don't think anyone has any illusions at the moment that the trial would actually be a real, fair trial," protester Nariman Yousseff told the BBC.
"We're all waiting to see what's going to happen, how they're going to get out of it, because it's been pretty clear and it's become even clearer in the last few days that... the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, who are in charge at the moment, do not really have any intention of fulfilling the revolution's demands.""We're all waiting to see what's going to happen, how they're going to get out of it, because it's been pretty clear and it's become even clearer in the last few days that... the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, who are in charge at the moment, do not really have any intention of fulfilling the revolution's demands."
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.
Are you in Egypt? Will you be following the trial? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Egypt? Will you be following the trial? Send us your comments using the form below.