Mubarak''s trial to get underway

The much-anticipated trial of ousted president Hosni Mubarak gets underway Wednesday. Speculation is rife amidst uncertainties that for the past months have surrounded the possibility of trying the 83-year-old. Mubarak, who was deposed on 11 February in the wake of the 18-day uprising that sparked the January 25 revolution, should stand trial on 3 August along with both of his sons, Alaa and Gamal, as well as ex-minister of interior Habib El-Adly and six of the latter’s assistants. Lecture hall number 1 at the Police Academy -- based in New Cairo on the outskirts of the capital – will host the opening session. The media will be allowed to cover the trial’s consecutive sessions from inside the courtroom. Only Egyptian State TV will be able to broadcast the trial. Authorities have announced that 600 people will be allowed into the courtroom, including lawyers of the defendants, family members of those injured or killed during the uprising and press. The trial’s venue was changed as recently as Saturday. It had due to be held at the Cairo International Convention Centre but was moved to the Academy for security reasons. The defendants, who are accused of involvement in the killing of peaceful protesters during the January 25 revolution and face potential death sentences should they be found guilty, ought to appear behind bars, like El-Adly did while wearing the blue prison vest in a previous court session. On Sunday, Egypt''s Prosecutor-General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud asked Minister of Interior Mansour El-Eissawi and the Ministry of Health to instigate the transfer of Mubarak from the International Sharm El-Sheikh Hospital to Cairo. Yossri Abdel Razek, one of the lawyers representing the former commander-in-chief, confirmed that his client will be in court. According to media reports, however, Mubarak is likely to miss the opening session, with his "deteriorating health" likely to be cited as an excuse. The past few months have seen many contradictory claims emerge over his health, not to mention rumours of his passing away. He is said to be suffering from severe cancer and heart problems as well as chronic depression. Almost a week ahead of the trial, it was reported that Mubarak is refusing to eat or drink.