The judge in the trial of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who is accused of corruption and complicity in the killing of protesters during the uprising that ousted him, has decided to stop live TV broadcasts of the proceedings, which have been adjourned until Sept. 5.
Judge Ahmed Rifaat adjourned the trial after wrapping up Monday's proceedings. Earlier, Mubarak arrived on a stretcher at the Cairo courtroom. His older son, Alaa, covered a state TV camera as it filmed his father, wearing a blue prison jumpsuit, being wheeled out of the ambulance and into the trial venue.
Alaa Mubarak, the former president's other son, Gamal, former interior minister Habib el-Adly and six top security officials are also on trial.
Brief scuffles between Mubarak supporters and opponents broke out outside the trial venue inside a Cairo police academy.
The first day of the trial, which also saw clashes between the two sides, was taken up by procedural moves.
"Yes, I am here; I deny all these accusations completely," Mubarak said into a microphone. As it was Monday, the bed was placed inside a cage of mesh and iron bars, an effort to separate him from relatives of some of the 850 protesters killed in the uprising earlier this year.
About 600 people attended that first court appearance.
Victims' relatives jockey for seats
On Monday, victims' relatives could be heard arguing over where they would sit, to which presiding Judge Ahmed Rifaat told their lawyers, "The case needs effort, not protests or talking."
The family lawyers asked to separate the corruption charges and the killing of the protesters so the trial wouldn't be delayed.
The prosecution of the former president is unprecedented in the Arab world, the first time a modern Mideast leader has been put on trial fully by his own people.
The closest event to it was former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's trial, but his capture came at the hands of U.S. troops in 2003 and his special tribunal was set up with extensive consultation with American officials and international experts.
Tunisia's deposed president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, has been tried and convicted several times since he fell several weeks before Mubarak, but always in absentia. He remains in exile in Saudi Arabia.
Mubarak, el-Adly and others are charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with the protesters who were killed. All could face the death penalty if convicted.
Separately, Mubarak and his two sons — one-time heir apparent Gamal and wealthy businessman Alaa — face charges of corruption.
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