Egypt court acquits Mubarak loyalists in ‘Camel Battle’ case

An Egyptian court acquitted on Wednesday 25 loyalists of ousted President Hosni Mubarak loyalists who were accused of orchestrating the bloody violence against pro-democracy protesters in Cairo`s Tahrir Square in February 2011, Egypt's state news agency reported.

During the violence, commonly referred to as the "Camel Battle," Mubarak’s loyalists organized an attack in which assailants on horses and camels charged into crowds of anti-regime protesters last year.

The 25 were found innocent on charges of manslaughter and attempted murder. The defendants included the Mubarak-era parliament speaker Safwat El-Sherif, former president of the Shura Council Majid el-Sherbini, senior former ruling party members, as well as government ministers and businessmen.

The assault on the anti-Mubarak protesters at the height of last year's 18-day sit-in in Tahrir square was a turning point. The attackwas blamed on Mubarak loyalists and was viewed as the regime's last ditch attempt to break up the protests that led to Mubarak's Feb. 11, 2011 ouster.