Egyptian court drops all charges against ousted President

An Egyptian court has dropped all charges against overthrown President Hosni Mubarak in connection with the killing of 240 protesters during the 2011 Arab Spring.

His former interior minister, Habib el-Adly, and six aides were also cleared of charges related to the deaths, during protests against the regime centred in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

Almost 900 protesters were killed in the 18-day uprising that ended when Mubarak stepped down but the trial was concerned only with the killing of 239 protesters, whose names were listed on court documents.

"There is no justice for the poor,” said Ramadan Ahmed, whose son Mohammed was shot dead in Alexandria during the uprising. "This is Mubarak's law!”

Judge Mahmoud al-Rashidi told the court that the dismissal of charges did not absolve the disgraced politician of the "corruption" and "weakness" of the latter years of his 29-year rule and praised the January 2011 uprising, saying that its goals of freedom and social justice were justified.

"To rule for or against [Mubarak] after he has become old will be left to history and the Judge of Judges, the Righteous and the Justice (God) who will question him about his rule,” the judge added.

The reaction to the verdicts was muted, after the judge threatened to jail anyone in court if they interrupted the proceedings, but the courtroom broke into cheers and applause as soon as it was adjourned.

Footage of scenes outside the court showed devastated protesters shouting and screaming in anger at the verdict as riot police lined the streets in preparation for disruption.

The early days of the protests saw fierce street battles between demonstrators and police and Government supporters.

Footage showed vehicles hitting crowds, bricks and stones being  hurled from the rooftops on to demonstrators in Tahrir Square and men on camels and horses beating protesters with batons and whips.

Almost 170 police officers and security officials put on trial in connection to the violence since 2011 have either been acquitted for lack of evidence or because they were found to have acted in self-defence. Others received short or suspended sentences.

The promise of the revolution has never been realised, as the military seized control in a coup over the elected Government headed by Mohamed Morsi last year.

In his short reign, Morsi had caused widespread discontent by attempting to prevent challenges to his decrees and extend the life of his constituent assembly, moves that sparked huge protests in the days before the coup.

He is also in prison facing a slew of charges, including some similarly related to the killing of protesters, which could see him sentenced to death.

(independent.co.uk)

ANN.Az