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Egypt's Mubarak to be tried over protester deaths

By The Associated Press

Tue, 05/24/2011 - 12:30pm

Images

FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010 file photo, Egypt's then President Hosni Mubarak listens as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Nethanyahu, unseen, speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington. A statement by the Egyptian prosecutor general released on Egypt's state news agency says that Hosni Mubarak and his sons will face trial on charges related to the deadly shootings of protesters during the uprising that led to the Egyptian leader's ouster. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

Egyptian fathers of Ahmed Salem Issa, 10, right, and Maged Abdel Naby Ashoor, 20, hold posters of their sons who were killed during Egypt's Jan. 25 uprising, outside a court in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, May 21, 2011, as they protest against former Egyptian interior minister Habib el-Adly and his aides who are facing charges linked to the deadly shooting of 846 protesters during the recent uprising. el-Adly and four of his top aides face charges linked to the deadly shooting of 846 protesters and the injury of thousands of others during the uprising that forced ex-president Hosni Mubarak to step down from office on Feb. 11. 2011, but the court postponed the case until June 26, because of chaos in the courtroom with families of the victims shouting "Butcher! Butcher!" at the defendants. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Egyptian policemen line the street as an armored army vehicle guards a convoy carrying former Egyptian interior minister Habib el-Adly and his aides, as they arrive at the court in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, May 21, 2011. el-Adly and four of his top aides face charges linked to the deadly shooting of 846 protesters and the injury of thousands of others during the uprising that forced ex-president Hosni Mubarak to step down from office on Feb. 11. 2011, but the court postponed the case until June 26, because of chaos in the courtroom with families of the victims shouting "Butcher! Butcher!" at the defendants. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Egyptian Mahmoud Abdel Naby Ashoor, the father of Maged Ashoor who were killed with other hundreds during Egypt's Jan.25th uprising, reacts in front of a poster of his son outside new Cairo's court, Egypt,Saturday, May 21, 2011. An Egyptian court has postponed to June 26 the trial of Egyptian former interior minister Habib el-Adly and four of his top aides for the death of 846 protesters and the injury of thousands during the uprising that forced ex-president Hosni Mubarak to step down on Feb.11. because of chaos in the courtroom. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2011 file photo, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak sits during his meeting with Emirates foreign minister, not pictured, at the Presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's ousted President Hosni Mubarak would face the death penalty if convicted of ordering the shooting of protesters during the uprisings that brought him down, the country's new justice minister said Saturday, April 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)

CAIRO -- Egypt's ex-President Hosni Mubarak will stand trial on charges of conspiring in the deadly shootings of protesters during the uprising that ousted him, the prosector-general said Tuesday.

The 83-year-old leader, his two sons and a close business associate also have been charged with abusing their power to amass wealth, the prosecutor-general's office said in a statement. A trial date has not yet been set.

The referral to trial is a key demand of many Egyptians who have rallied to insist that Mubarak and his aides face justice.

Mubarak stepped down on Feb. 11 and transferred power to the military after an 18-day popular uprising. At least 846 protesters were killed, according to a government fact-finding mission.

Mubarak has been in custody in a hospital since last month. His two sons are in detention in a Cairo prison.

But after the initial euphoria of a successful uprising, protesters have become impatient and stepped up demands that reforms and promises be carried out.

Tuesday's decision comes ahead of a planned Friday protest dubbed "Egypt's second revolution," which was aimed at calling for Mubarak's trial, uprooting all remnants of his regime and lifting the hated emergency laws that remain on the books more than three months after he was ousted.

The statement from prosecutor-general Mahmoud Abdel-Meguid accused Mubarak of having "conspired" with the former security chief and other officers to shoot and kill the protesters who took to the streets starting Jan. 25.

Abdel-Meguid also charged Mubarak and his sons, Gamal and Alaa, of using their authority and power to enrich himself and a business associate. The associate, Hussein Salem, also was charged.