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| Hosni Mubarak: Egypt court drops charges over 2011 uprising deaths | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A court in Egypt has dropped charges against former President Hosni Mubarak over the killing of 239 protesters during the 2011 uprising against him. | A court in Egypt has dropped charges against former President Hosni Mubarak over the killing of 239 protesters during the 2011 uprising against him. |
| The Cairo court erupted in cheers when the judge said Mubarak should not have been a defendant in the case as the charges against him were added late. | |
| Charges against seven senior ex-officials were also dropped. The decision could be appealed. | |
| Victims' relatives waiting outside expressed dismay and frustration. | |
| In a TV interview after the ruling, Mubarak said he had done "nothing wrong at all". | |
| The former president, 86, is serving a separate three-year sentence for embezzlement of public funds. | |
| He is currently being held in a military hospital, and is expected to serve at least a few more months of this sentence. | |
| Mubarak, his former Interior Minister, Habib al-Adly, and six others had been convicted of conspiracy to kill and were sentenced to life in prison in June 2012, but a retrial was ordered last year on a technicality. | Mubarak, his former Interior Minister, Habib al-Adly, and six others had been convicted of conspiracy to kill and were sentenced to life in prison in June 2012, but a retrial was ordered last year on a technicality. |
| In all, some 800 people are thought to have been killed as security forces battled protesters in the weeks before Mubarak resigned on 11 February 2011. | In all, some 800 people are thought to have been killed as security forces battled protesters in the weeks before Mubarak resigned on 11 February 2011. |
| However, the court documents at the retrial related to the deaths of 239 people and injuries sustained by 1,588, across 11 of the country's regions. | |
| As well as the murder charge, Mubarak was also cleared of a corruption charge involving gas exports to Israel. | As well as the murder charge, Mubarak was also cleared of a corruption charge involving gas exports to Israel. |
| His sons Gamal and Alaa were also cleared of separate corruption charges by the same court on Saturday. | His sons Gamal and Alaa were also cleared of separate corruption charges by the same court on Saturday. |
| As supporters cheered the verdict, his sons and co-defendants stooped down to kiss his forehead. | As supporters cheered the verdict, his sons and co-defendants stooped down to kiss his forehead. |
| Mubarak's lawyer, Farid al-Deeb, told AFP news agency the verdict was a "good ruling that proved the integrity of Mubarak's era". | Mubarak's lawyer, Farid al-Deeb, told AFP news agency the verdict was a "good ruling that proved the integrity of Mubarak's era". |
| Later the former president gave an interview by phone to private Sada al-Balad TV. | |
| "I did nothing wrong at all," he said, adding that he was "relying on God" as he waited for the second verdict in the case. | |
| At the scene: BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo | At the scene: BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo |
| Outside the police academy that used to bear his name, supporters and opponents of the former president gathered to hear the verdict - separated by police and a few layers of barricades. Hawkers stood on the sidelines offering Mubarak memorabilia. | Outside the police academy that used to bear his name, supporters and opponents of the former president gathered to hear the verdict - separated by police and a few layers of barricades. Hawkers stood on the sidelines offering Mubarak memorabilia. |
| The Mubarak faithful held aloft portraits of their former leader, calling for him to be acquitted. The former president, who had been brought in on a stretcher as usual, allowed himself a slight smile. Supporters hugged each other and danced in the streets. One woman told us it was the best moment of her life. "We always knew he was innocent," she said. | The Mubarak faithful held aloft portraits of their former leader, calling for him to be acquitted. The former president, who had been brought in on a stretcher as usual, allowed himself a slight smile. Supporters hugged each other and danced in the streets. One woman told us it was the best moment of her life. "We always knew he was innocent," she said. |
| A short distance away bereaved relatives held photos of loved ones killed by the security forces during the revolution of 2011. Several of them had been demanding Mubarak's execution. When they heard the news, huddled around a car radio, one man collapsed, and started banging his head with his hands. | A short distance away bereaved relatives held photos of loved ones killed by the security forces during the revolution of 2011. Several of them had been demanding Mubarak's execution. When they heard the news, huddled around a car radio, one man collapsed, and started banging his head with his hands. |
| Almost four years after Hosni Mubarak was swept from power, many Egyptians have lost interest in the fate of their former leader. | Almost four years after Hosni Mubarak was swept from power, many Egyptians have lost interest in the fate of their former leader. |
| The verdict means no-one has been held responsible for the killing of more than 800 protesters during the 2011 revolution. It is as if the dead committed mass suicide, said one Egyptian journalist on Twitter. | The verdict means no-one has been held responsible for the killing of more than 800 protesters during the 2011 revolution. It is as if the dead committed mass suicide, said one Egyptian journalist on Twitter. |
| Egypt's revolution: Interactive map | Egypt's revolution: Interactive map |
| Mixed reactions as Mubarak case dropped | |
| But relatives of those killed in 2011 reacted with anger. | |
| "There is no justice for the poor," said Ramadan Ahmed, who lost his son Mohammed in Alexandria during the unrest, quoted by the Associated Press. "This is Mubarak's law." | |
| Meanwhile a member of the activist group April 6th Youth Movement told the BBC that the verdict had dealt a mortal blow to the Egyptian revolution and showed that human rights in the country were not being properly defended. | |
| "It makes [sic] a big question mark about the judiciary system in Egypt, whether it is able to... bring back the rights to other people," Mahmoud Bashar said. | |
| Mubarak's elected successor, President Mohammed Morsi, lasted only a year in power before being ousted by the military in July 2013 during mass anti-government protests. | Mubarak's elected successor, President Mohammed Morsi, lasted only a year in power before being ousted by the military in July 2013 during mass anti-government protests. |
| Army chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi was subsequently elected in his place and under his rule, TV stations and newspapers have largely dropped criticism of the Mubarak era, correspondents say. | Army chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi was subsequently elected in his place and under his rule, TV stations and newspapers have largely dropped criticism of the Mubarak era, correspondents say. |
| Did you take part in the protests in 2011? Did you know someone who was killed in the protests? What is your reaction to this news? Send your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Did you take part in the protests in 2011? Did you know someone who was killed in the protests? What is your reaction to this news? Send your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Have your say | Have your say |