Mubarak will face trial after activists force regime's hand

Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak will stand trial on charges of conspiring in the deadly shootings of protesters during the uprising that ousted him, the prosecutor-general said yesterday, a major step in a country still rattled by protests and demands for justice.

The 83-year-old leader and his two sons also were charged with abusing power to amass wealth, enriching associates and accepting bribes, the prosecutor- general's office said in a statement. A date has not been set for the trial.

Putting Mubarak on trial is a key demand of many Egyptians who have rallied to call for the ousted leader and his aides face justice. A close associate of Mubarak, Hussein Salem, also was charged. He is still at large.

Mubarak stepped down on 11 February 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 in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh since last month. His two sons are in detention in a Cairo prison.

The Mubaraks and other members of the former regime have been the subject of legal efforts to bring them to trial since the ex-president was forced to resign.

Egypt's former security chief and four of his top aides are already on trial for the shooting of protesters.

Earlier this month, Tunisia's toppled president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was charged along with his wife of inciting violence in the bloody crackdown on the popular uprising there. Ben Ali has fled to Saudi Arabia.

After the initial euphoria following a successful uprising in Egypt, protesters have become impatient and stepped up demands that reforms and promises be carried out.

Mubarak's prosecution has been complicated by his health issues. He has been interrogated in hospital, but an order by the prosecutor to transfer him to prison during the investigation was overturned on grounds its health facilities were not ready to receive him. He was never moved to a military hospital, as suggested by the prosecutor.

Protesters took to the streets several times demanding a speedy trial for Mubarak and his sons. The calls were aggravated two weeks ago by reports suggesting the military rulers might grant Mubarak amnesty. The reports sparked a wave of criticism and calls for mass rallies to demand justice. The anger prompted a quick denial from the military rulers.

The statement from prosecutor-general Mahmoud Abdel-Meguid yesterday accused Mubarak of having "conspired" with the former security chief and other officers to shoot and kill protesters who took to the streets on 25 January.The decision comes ahead of a planned Friday protest dubbed "Egypt's Second Revolution," to demand Mubarak be put on trial and that all remnants of his regime be uprooted, including the hated emergency laws that remain on the books more than three months after his ousting.

Activist Hossam Hamalawi said the Friday protests will go ahead because there are other demands besides the trial of Mubarak. "It has to be a public trial, aired minute by minute," he said. "It is not a legal process as much as it is a political one."

Abdel-Meguid also charged Mubarak and his sons, Gamal and Alaa, with using their authority and power to enrich himself and business associate Salem.

Prosecution spokesman Adel al-Said said Mubarak's sons are still being interrogated on other accusations.

The prosecutor had earlier ordered the freezing of the assets of Mubarak and his family. His 70-year-old wife Suzanne was released after she relinquished assets and property valued at $4 million. The move aimed to settle corruption allegations against her, but it is unclear if she will still face trial.