Egypt's new leader Field Marshal Tantawi says Mubarak didn't order shootings

Egypt's new leader Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi has publically stated, during a ceremony south of Cairo, that former president Hosni Mubarak never gave orders to shoot at protesters demanding his resignation.

Tantawi made the remarks a week after he testified in secret in Mubarak's trial. The former president is being charged with ordering the killing of anti-government demonstrators during the 18 day uprising, which resulted in his ousting.

It is destimated that at least 850 protesters were killed by security forces. Speaking about the issue, Tantawi said: "The armed forces fight for Egypt and not for just anyone, whoever it may be…I testified before God and I told the truth…Nobody asked us to open fire and nobody will open fire."

The court imposed a ban on the country's media thus allowing Tantawi's testimony, which took place on 24th September, to proceed in secret. His account is thought to have been vital in the trial of Mubarak, who denies the charges and could face the death penalty if convicted.

During the session, lawyers representing some of those killed said Tantawi gave evidence earlier than usual and left the courthouse without allowing cross-examination.

Mubarak's security chief Habib al-Adli and six top police officers are also on trial with the former leader. About 100 other officers charged with using deadly force are on trial separately.

Sources: BBC News, Reuters, AFP

For more news and expert analysis about Egypt, please see Egypt Politics & Security.

Egyptian pipeline under attack once again

Yet another attack on a pipeline carrying gas to Israel and Jordan has been reported by the Egyptian authorities. A witness told Reuters news agency that three men opened fire at a pumping station near the town of El-Arish, in northern Egypt, 50km from the Israeli border.

Attacks on the pipeline have been more frequent this year than at any other period in the past. This reportedly due to the sale of Egyptian gas to Israel, which some groups vehemently opposed. There have also been allegations that under former president Hosni Mubarak gas prices for the 20-year deal signed in 2008 were set at very low rates.

Unnamed Egyptian officials said that an initial assessment of the situation indicated that the gunmen had planted explosives at the station. One of the officials blamed the attack on "extremist militants inspired by Al-Qa'ida".

Three lines branch out from the pumping station: one to Israel, a second one to Jordan and a third to Egypt's domestic market. The Egyptian and Jordanian lines were shut down following the attack. The Israeli pipeline has not been operating since an attack in July.

Last month, Egypt's government deployed thousands of troops to the region as part of a campaign to contain the explosive situation after an assault on a police station by masked militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons killed five people and injured 28 others.

Sources: BBC News, ETaiwan News, Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about Egypt, please see Egypt Politics & Security.

Mubarak's trial will give pointers to Egypt's future relationship with power

The trial of the former president Hosni Mubarak is an examination of past actions. Its conduct, however, says as much if not more about the present. And it will also give pointers to the future Egypt's relationship with power.

Putting the former president on trial was one of the main demands of the activists and protesters of what has been dubbed as the 25th January Revolution. Some may be questioning how much of a trial he is actually getting, given the time it took to materialise and the failure of the prosecution to so far mount an effective case.

The key, however, is that an Arab leader is being tried for his actions during his presidency. This is unprecedented in the Arab world. Time will tell if others will follow suit or, if by contrast, they will look aghast at what is happening and move to ensure that it does not happen to them.

That a president is subject to the law like any other citizen — or rather, as any other citizen should have been but was not because of the arbitrariness of the former autocratic regime — is hugely significant whatever the outcome.

It should serve as a warning and a deterrent to any future ruler that he (or just possibly, she) risks being held to account. This should act as a brake on the abuse of power, now that the people have demonstrated that they too are arbiters in the course of politics.

For more news and expert analysis about Egypt, please see Egypt Politics & Security.

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