Egypt’s ex-interior minister to be tried with Mubarak

The trial of Egypt’s former interior minister Habib Al Adli, accused of ordering the murder of thousands of protesters, was postponed until next week so that he will be tried alongside ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

In a session broadcasted on live state television, the Egyptian court ruled that Mr. Adli’s case will be merged with the former President’s trial due to begin on August 3.

Judge Adel Abdel-Salam instructed on Monday that Mr. Adli’s trial be postponed so it is “joined with the case related to the trial of the former President Hosni Mubarak,” referring to similar evidence and charges in both cases.

At least 846 people were killed and more than 6,000 injured during the mass anti-government revolt in January which toppled Mr. Mubarak.

Mr. Adli is accused of ordering the police force to use live ammunition, teargas and water cannon to try to break up protests against the former government.

Hosni Mubarak is also accused of ordering the murder of the protestors.

Six other officials also involved in Mr. Adli’s case will stand trial on the same day also.

Protesters still camped out in Tahrir Square have been demanding that Mr. Mubarak and his officials from the former regime face immediate trials after suspicions arose that the now-ruling Military Council is reluctant to speed up court proceedings.

Outside the court on Monday, many Egyptians – mostly family members of the victims that died during the protests - questioned the judge’s decision.

“Why did they postpone the trial today? We are tired of this never-ending postponement. The son of my brother died in the revolution; who will give us our rights ... if the court keeps postponing trials of those who killed him?” asked Mohamed Abdou, who was outside the court, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s former Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif is being questioned by military prosecutors on charges of corruption, according to AFP.

In the first military investigation against members of the ousted regime, perhaps suggesedMr. Nazif has been accused of seizing state-owned land and squandering public money.

Two weeks ago, Mr. Nazif and Mr. Adli were both found guilty in separate charges of graft. Mr. Nazif was sentenced to a one-year suspended jail term, while the former interior received five years.

(Eman El-Shenawi, Editor of Al Arabiya English, can be reached at: [email protected].)