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| Hosni Mubarak trial: Lawyers open defence case in Cairo | Hosni Mubarak trial: Lawyers open defence case in Cairo |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Lawyers for the ousted Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, have begun arguing the case for the defence, in a court in Cairo. | |
| Mr Mubarak is accused of ordering the killing of demonstrators during unrest which led to his resignation last year. | Mr Mubarak is accused of ordering the killing of demonstrators during unrest which led to his resignation last year. |
| His lawyer Farid al-Deeb said his client was innocent, describing him as a clean leader, who obeyed the law and worked tirelessly for his country. | |
| The defence's arguments are expected to last three days, state media report. | The defence's arguments are expected to last three days, state media report. |
| Mr Mubarak's two sons, one-time heir apparent Gamal and Alaa, are facing separate charges of corruption with their father in the same trial. | Mr Mubarak's two sons, one-time heir apparent Gamal and Alaa, are facing separate charges of corruption with their father in the same trial. |
| 'Classic oratory' | |
| Mr Deeb described the former president as a man worn down by illness after devoting his entire life to the service of his nation. | |
| He argued that he had been mauled by malicious talk targeted from all sides, with his reputation being slandered by tongues and pens. | |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo said it was a classic piece of oratory from a lawyer well known in Egypt for his high-profile clients and silver tongue. | |
| 'Surprises' | 'Surprises' |
| Our correspondent added that it appears as if the lawyer does not have any of the big surprises Egypt's press has suggested he might have up his sleeve. | |
| Reports this week claimed that Mr Mubarak's lawyer, Farid al-Deeb, would reveal "surprises" as he made his case, but he refused to give anything away when he spoke to the al-Masry al-Youm newspaper. | Reports this week claimed that Mr Mubarak's lawyer, Farid al-Deeb, would reveal "surprises" as he made his case, but he refused to give anything away when he spoke to the al-Masry al-Youm newspaper. |
| "Nobody knows what I will say," he said, denying reports that he was taking instructions from Gamal Mubarak or Mr Mubarak's wife, Suzanne. | "Nobody knows what I will say," he said, denying reports that he was taking instructions from Gamal Mubarak or Mr Mubarak's wife, Suzanne. |
| The former president was earlier wheeled into the court, at the capital's police academy, on a stretcher. | |
| Lawyers for the 83-year-old have been quoted as saying he is unable to sit up due to the risk of stroke. | |
| The trial against Mr Mubarak began last August and the case against him culminated in early January, when chief prosecutor Mustafa Suleiman argued it was impossible that Mr Mubarak had not ordered police to open fire on protesters, leaving more than 800 dead. | The trial against Mr Mubarak began last August and the case against him culminated in early January, when chief prosecutor Mustafa Suleiman argued it was impossible that Mr Mubarak had not ordered police to open fire on protesters, leaving more than 800 dead. |
| But the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says prosecutors have 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. | But the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says prosecutors have 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. |