Justice Ministry: Mubaraks to be Tried in Cairo
Egypt's ex-president Hosni Mubarak's murder trial on August 3 will take place in Cairo, the official news agency MENA quoted a justice ministry official as saying on Thursday.
"It has been decided that the trial of ex-president Hosni Mubarak and his two sons Alaa and Gamal ... will be held in the building of the General Authority for Investment and the free trade areas in the Cairo Expo grounds," it quoted him as saying.
Mubarak, ousted in February by a popular revolt, has been under arrest in hospital in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he receives treatment for a heart condition.
His transfer to Cairo was a key demand of protesters whose relations with the ruling military and government have strained in the past weeks partly over accusations that they are delaying trials of former regime officials.
Mubarak, 83, will stand trial with his two sons and his former interior minister Habib al-Adli, who are imprisoned in Cairo.
Six police commanders are also included as defendants as is a businessman close to Mubarak who fled the country and was arrested in Spain.
Tourism Minister Munir Fakhri Abdul Nour hailed the announcement, saying he had warned the government against holding the trial in Sharm el-Sheikh, one of the country's key tourist attractions.
"I asked them to stay away from Sharm el-Sheikh. It seems that they have followed my advice," he told Agence France Presse.
He said the trial and the inevitable demonstrations outside the court house would have "disturbed the small city."
Mubarak is charged with ordering the shooting of anti-regime demonstrators during the revolt, abuse of office for illicit gains and squandering public funds.
The justice minister has said Mubarak may be executed if found guilty of the murder charge.
Source: Agence France Presse
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