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Hosni Mubarak: Egypt court drops charges over 2011 uprising deaths | Hosni Mubarak: Egypt court drops charges over 2011 uprising deaths |
(about 17 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. | 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. | Charges against seven senior ex-officials were also dropped. The decision could be appealed. |
Victims' relatives waiting outside expressed dismay and frustration. | Victims' relatives waiting outside expressed dismay and frustration. |
And later police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd of about 2,000 people who gathered near Tahrir Square to voice their opposition to the decision. | And later police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd of about 2,000 people who gathered near Tahrir Square to voice their opposition to the decision. |
In a TV interview after the ruling, Mubarak said he had done "nothing wrong at all". | 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. | The former president, 86, is serving a separate three-year sentence for embezzlement of public funds. |
At the scene: BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo | At the scene: BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo |
In a rare and risky act of defiance crowds gathered close to Tahrir Square, the birthplace of the 2011 revolution. It was a relatively small protest, but hugely symbolic. Both liberals and Islamists called for freedom. For some it felt - briefly - like an echo of the revolution. | In a rare and risky act of defiance crowds gathered close to Tahrir Square, the birthplace of the 2011 revolution. It was a relatively small protest, but hugely symbolic. Both liberals and Islamists called for freedom. For some it felt - briefly - like an echo of the revolution. |
The security forces moved in after a few hours, causing mayhem with teargas. We heard the crackle of live ammunition in the night air. | The security forces moved in after a few hours, causing mayhem with teargas. We heard the crackle of live ammunition in the night air. |
What happens next is a critical test for Egypt. Will the protesters try to regroup - in spite of a law banning unauthorised demonstrations? Or will the authorities manage to stamp out this this latest eruption of dissent, as they have crushed others? | What happens next is a critical test for Egypt. Will the protesters try to regroup - in spite of a law banning unauthorised demonstrations? Or will the authorities manage to stamp out this this latest eruption of dissent, as they have crushed others? |
Egypt's revolution: Interactive map | Egypt's revolution: Interactive map |
Mixed reactions as Mubarak case dropped | Mixed reactions as Mubarak case dropped |
He is currently being held in a military hospital, and is expected to serve at least a few more months of this sentence. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. |
But relatives of those killed in 2011 reacted with anger. | 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." | "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. | 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. | "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. |