Mubarak denies charges

held yesterday in Cairo’s Police Academy. Judge Ahmed Refaat presided.
Mubarak, who was transferred to Cairo early yesterday morning from the Red Sea resort Sharm El-Sheikh, appeared in court on a stretcher.
He pleaded not guilty of abuse of office, corruption and ordering the killing of protesters during February’s uprising.
His two sons, Gamal and Alaa, who were tried together with him also pleaded not guilty.
Mubarak spoke just once to confirm his presence and enter his plea.
“I completely deny all those charges,” he said.
The former Egyptian leader is a long time ally of the United States of America who protected its interests in the Middle East, especially Israel.
For close to three decades, the US government propped his government with billions of dollars of aid money. The Obama administration was also heavily involved in his departure from office.
During the trial, Mubarak’s lawyer, Farid el-Deeb asked for permission of photocopying the 43-page document which questioned the former president, including a call for the head of Egypt’s transitional military council, General Mohamed Hussein Tantawi to act as a witness in the trial.
He also requested more than 1 600 other people to be summoned to the court to give testimony as well as the testimony of those who were in power when the nationwide demonstrations broke out, including Chief of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Hussein Tantawi.
The lawyer also appealed to the court panel to consider his previous request for permission to allow Mubarak’s German doctor to follow his health condition.
After several hours of debate, the trial was adjourned to August 15, and the court added that Mubarak would stay in a hospital inside the Police Academy complex until then.
Meanwhile, clashes occurred outside the trial venue between Mubarak’s supporters and protesters. Police had to put barriers to separate the two groups.
Mubarak was forced to step down in February after 18 days of popular protest.
A military council took over power later and promised to hold parliamentary and presidential elections. – Xin-hua/Herald/RiaNovosti/guardian.co.uk