Trial of Hosni Mubarak Resumes

The trial of the former Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, has resumed after a delay of almost two months. State TV showed the 83-year-old being stretchered into the court, at the police academy in the capital, Cairo. Mr Mubarak is accused of corruption, and of ordering the killing of protesters during the uprising which forced him to step down last February. His two sons, Alaa and Gamal, the former interior minister and six senior police officers are also in the dock. All the defendants have denied the charges against them. Police deployed State TV carried live footage of Mr Mubarak's arrival at the court on Wednesday. Wearing a black tracksuit and covered with a blanket, he was taken on a stretcher from an ambulance to a waiting room. He was earlier flown to the police academy by helicopter from a Cairo military hospital, where he has received treatment for a heart condition. Proceedings were delayed because lawyers representing the families of the nearly 840 protesters killed during the 18-day uprising demanded that the presiding judge, Ahmed Refaat, and two other judges be replaced. Their request was rejected earlier this month. In mid-August, Judge Refaat angered the lawyers when he banned live TV coverage of the trial, saying he was exasperated by them showing off for the cameras. Some of Egypt's most powerful figures have testified since the trial began in August. The head of the ruling military council, former Defence Minister Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, told a closed-door session in September that Mr Mubarak had never given orders to shoot protesters. The former president could face the death penalty if found guilty. More than 5,000 policemen will be deployed on Wednesday to secure the police academy, according to the interior ministry. Riot police have often had to separate anti- and pro-Mubarak crowds, who have fought outside. The charges Hosni Mubarak: Conspiring in killing of protesters (15 years in prison or death penalty); abusing power to amass wealth (5-15 years) Alaa and Gamal Mubarak: abusing power to amass wealth (5-15 years) Former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six aides: conspiring in killing of protesters (15 years or death penalty) Hussein Salem, business tycoon: tried in absentia for corruption (5-15 years in prison)