CAIRO: An Egyptian court yesterday dismissed a murder charge against Hosni Mubarak over the deaths of protesters during the 2011 uprising, sparking a Cairo demonstration that police dispersed with tear gas.
Mubarak, who ruled for three decades until being driven from office, was also acquitted of a corruption charge but will remain in jail on a three-year sentence in a separate graft case.
The ruling enraged the strongman’s opponents, with about 1,000 converging on a Cairo square to denounce the government. Police fired tear gas to disperse them and arrested at least 20.
Seven of Mubarak’s security commanders, including feared former interior minister Habib Al Adly, were acquitted over the deaths of some of the roughly 800 people killed during the revolt.
Cheers erupted in court and Mubarak’s sons Alaa and Gamal kissed his forehead when the judge read the verdict in the retrial as the ex-president, 86, lay in a stretcher inside the caged dock.
Corruption charges against the sons were also dropped.
The usually stone-faced Mubarak, wearing his trademark sunglasses, allowed himself a faint smile after the verdict was read.
An appeals court had overturned an initial life sentence for Mubarak in 2012 on a technicality. Yesterday’s verdict may also be appealed.
THE PENINSULA
