Cairo: Mubarak's lawyer calls Tantawi to give testimony

Egyptian caretaker president, generals, politicians called as witnesses; former president will remain in custody in Cairo during trial, not be allowed to return to Sharm e-Sheikh resort; special doctors called.

By REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFF
Judge Ahmed Refaat 311 R (photo credit: REUTERS/Egypt TV via Reuters TV)
Judge Ahmed Refaat 311 R
(photo credit: REUTERS/Egypt TV via Reuters TV)
The lawyer representing former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak called on Wednesday for the military ruler of Egypt to be summoned as a witness in the trial.
Mubarak's lawyer Farid al-Deeb asked to "hear the testimony of Field Marshal (Mohamed Hussein) Tantawi" among a list of more than 1600 people he requested as witnesses, including former and current governors in the region of South Sinai.
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He also listed other requests, including asking for a permit to get a specialist doctor to tend to Mubarak who has been hospitalized since April.
Former president to remain in Cairo during trial
After his first court session ends, Mubarak will stay in a hospital in Cairo, Egypt's state news agency MENA said on Wednesday.
Mubarak had been detained in a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm e-Sheikh since April after he suffered health problems during initial questioning.
The former president will remain in a hospital inside the Police Academy complex, where he is now being tried, MENA said quoting an official source.
Mubarak, sons plead not guilty to all charges
Mubarak denied charges that he was involved in the killing of protesters and other corruption charges in the trial of former president on Wednesday.
"I entirely deny all those accusations," Mubarak said speaking from the bed where he lay inside a cage for defendants in the Cairo court. His two sons, Gamal and Alaa, both holding copies of the Muslim holy book the Koran, also denied charges.Prosecutor asks for the death penaltyA lawyer acting for families of those killed in Egypt's uprising said former interior minister Habib Adli was ordered by Mubarak to kill demonstrators and demanded execution for the ex-minister.
"He took orders from the ousted president to kill the protesters... We ask for implementation of the top punishment for the accused," the lawyer told the judge when referring to Adli's case.
Adli is being tried alongside Mubarak, his sons and other defendants.
Click for full Jpost coverage of turmoil in the Middle East
Click for full Jpost coverage of turmoil in the Middle East
Violence erupts outside the trial
Clashes broke out between pro-Mubarak and anti-Mubarak factions watching the televised trial outside the Cairo police academy where it was taking place.
Ahmed Amer, 30, a water company employee watching the proceedings from outside the court said, "I don't believe this ... to see a president being tried ... I never imagined it. I am so happy, I feel tomorrow will be better and that the next president knows what could happen to him if he goes against his people."
Ali Abdullah, a grocery store owner in Sharm e-Sheikh said, "I used to oppose the revolution at first. I criticized the youth in Tahrir and those who protested. But seeing that their efforts have finally brought this pharaoh to court, I must say that I salute the revolution and the youth of Egypt."
Pro-Mubarak protesters outside the court chanted, "Oh Mubarak hold your head high," and, "We will demolish the prison and burn it down, if Hosni Mubarak is sentenced."