This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-16429694

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Hosni Mubarak: Egypt prosecutors seek death penalty Hosni Mubarak: Egypt prosecutors seek death penalty
(about 1 hour later)
Prosecutors at the trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have demanded he be given the death penalty. Prosecutors at the trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have demanded the death penalty for him.
Mr Mubarak is being tried in Cairo on charges of ordering the killing of protesters during unrest which led to his overthrow in February. Mr Mubarak is being tried in Cairo on charges of ordering the killing of demonstrators during unrest which led to his overthrow last year.
"The law foresees the death penalty for premeditated murder," prosecutor Mustafa Khater said, AFP reports. The demand also applies to former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly and six other former security chiefs.
The demand also applies for former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly and six other former security chiefs. More than 800 protesters were killed during an 18-day revolt before Mr Mubarak was ousted on 11 February.
Mr Mubarak's two sons, one-time heir apparent Gamal and Alaa, face corruption charges in the same trial. "Any fair judge must issue a death sentence for these defendants," prosecutor Mustafa Khater said, according to AFP.
"How could the president of the republic not be aware of the demonstrations that broke out on January 25th?", chief prosecutor Mustafa Suleiman asked, according to AFP. "He [Mubarak] can never, as the head of the state, claim that he did not know what was going on," chief prosecutor Mustafa Suleiman told the court.
Mr Suleiman went on to argue that the then interior minister Habib el-Adly, who is also on trial, could "not have given the order to fire on demonstrators without having been instructed to do so by Mubarak." "He is responsible and must bear the legal and political responsibility for what happened", he added.
"If you had not issued these orders yourself, then where was your outburst of rage over the lives of your people?", Mr Suleiman asked, addressing Mr Mubarak directly, AP reports.
Given the severity of the charges, seeking the death penalty was always a possibility, but many Egyptians will be shocked to hear the demand put so bluntly for the first time in the trial, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo reports.Given the severity of the charges, seeking the death penalty was always a possibility, but many Egyptians will be shocked to hear the demand put so bluntly for the first time in the trial, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo reports.
However, whether Mr Mubarak will be executed or even convicted is another question entirely - the prosecution has complained of a lack of co-operation from the interior ministry in producing evidence and the case has been weakened by a key witness changing his testimony, he adds.However, whether Mr Mubarak will be executed or even convicted is another question entirely - the prosecution has complained of a lack of co-operation from the interior ministry in producing evidence and the case has been weakened by a key witness changing his testimony, he adds.
The prosecution says it has taken testimony from 2,000 witnesses, including police officers who discussed orders from above to arm police with automatic rifles and shotguns to use against protesters.
Some of Egypt's most powerful figures have testified since the trial began in August.Some of Egypt's most powerful figures have testified since the trial began in August.
The head of the ruling military council, former Defence Minister Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, told a closed-door session in September that Mr Mubarak had never given orders to shoot protesters.The head of the ruling military council, former Defence Minister Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, told a closed-door session in September that Mr Mubarak had never given orders to shoot protesters.
The trial has now been adjourned to 9 January. The trial has now been adjourned to 9 January, when the defence is expected to present its case.
Mr Mubarak's two sons, one-time heir apparent Gamal and Alaa, face corruption charges in the same trial.