Egypt's Military Ruler Tantawi to testify against Mubarak

Egypt's Military Ruler Field Marshal Mohamad Tantawi has been summoned to testify against former president Hosni Mubarak. He is the previous regime's defence minister, and currently runs the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF).

Another official summoned to give evidence against Mubarak is his former vice-president and intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman.

Mubarak faces charges of ordering the shooting of protesters during the uprising that prompted his resignation in February. The former president, who is reportedly in ill-health, denies the charges.

The proceedings resumed amid minor riots outside the court as the two sides – the pro Mubarak supporters and the revolutionaries – squared up to each other. Some people were chanting in favour of Mubarak while others are calling for the death penalty.

Many people believe that the testimony of senior officials, such as Tantawi, will be crucial in determining whether Mubarak abused his authority and ordered security officials to use lethal forces on protesters.

According to the BBC, one of the witnesses, a senior police official, was arrested for changing his evidence. The officer had originally told lawyers that he was given orders to use live ammunition on demonstrators but later retracted the statement on the stand.

On Monday 5th September, none of the witnesses who testified implicated Mubarak in the deaths of protesters during the revolution. It is estimated that around 850 people were killed during the 18 day uprising in Cairo's Tahrir Square in January and February.

The trial of Mubarak, and his sons Gamal and Alaa, has been merged with that of former interior minister Habib al-Adly, also accused of ordering the killing of protesters during the uprising.

Sources: BBC News, AP, AFP

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

Protests in Egypt in danger of losing momentum

Two weeks into protesting, the demonstrators occupying Tahrir Square have once again called for an immediate removal of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak. Thousands of Egyptians gathered in the square have been guarded by the army, on site to maintain order. The talks between the government and the opposition seem to have achieved little as Mubarak is unlikely to resign.

Speaking about the dialogue, US President Barack Obama said: “Egypt has to negotiate a path, and I think they're making progress." The opposition, however, insists that the talks are heading nowhere, and that most people still live in fear of harassment and wrongful arrest. In a bid to appease the demonstrators, the government announced concessions, including a 15 per cent pay rise for six million public sector workers.

Discussions between the opposition and Egypt's newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman have stagnated as the government hasn't met the protesters' key demands, namely the resignation of President Mubarak.

Presently, the occupation of Tahrir Square is being tolerated, while the rest of Egypt goes back to normalcy. It is feared that the anti-government movement might lose momentum, and the participants might get rounded up and face prosecution by the establishment.

Sparked by the uprising in Tunisia, the protesters sought to oust Mubarak after three decades in power. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW) research, nearly 300 people have been killed in the unrest which began on 25th January. HRW said it has estimated around 297 victims in the days of violence, which saw fierce clashes with police, and battles between protesters and Mubarak supporters.

The numbers of those in Tahrir Square drop overnight, and after days of protests, those camping on the square are beginning to feel the strain.

Sources: BBC News, New York Times, Voice of America, AP

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