Egyptian Court Resumes Trial of Mubarak for Ordering Killing of Protesters

Local Editor

An Egyptian court on Wednesday resumed the trial of toppled Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, over his involvement in the alleged murder of protesters during the country's 2011 uprising.

An Egyptian court heard Mubarak deliver a speech in which he defended his 30-year rule at the Police Academy in the capital of Cairo.

Speaking from inside a cage that holds defendants, Mubarak gave a 23-minute address aired live on national television.

Mubarak denied on Wednesday that he ordered the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising that deposed him.

The toppled president was found guilty in June 2012 of failing to stop the killing of over 900 protesters during the 18-day uprising in 2011 and was sentenced to life imprisonment. His conviction was overturned in January 2013 and a retrial began in April 2013. He has spent much of his time in a military hospital since then.

"I voluntarily chose to give up my responsibility as president to prevent bloodshed and to preserve national unity, for Egypt not to slide into a dangerous path toward the unknown," Mubarak claimed.

"This may be my last speech," he told the court. "As my life approaches its end, thank God I have a good conscience, and I am satisfied I spent it in defence of Egypt.

Mubarak's security chief Habib el-Adly, convicted and sentenced to life in prison on the same charges, is also standing trial as well with six of his top aides. The six were acquitted in the earlier trial.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team