Egyptian Judge Vows Speedy Mubarak Trial, Activists Suspend Tahrir Sit-In for Ramadhan, July 31, 2011

Egyptian Judge Vows Speedy Mubarak Trial, Activists Suspend Tahrir Sit-In for Ramadhan

July 31, 2011

Egypt judge vows speedy Mubarak trial

France 24, 31 July 2011 - 14H26

AFP -

The head of the Cairo Criminal Court has vowed a speedy trial for ousted president Hosni Mubarak, the official MENA news agency reported on Sunday.

Judge Ahmed Refaat said Mubarak's trial, which starts on Wednesday, would be aired live on Egyptian television to "reassure people of the (credibility of the) process".

The trial would be "held daily until its conclusion," he said in a statement that comes in response to the widespread public belief that the opening hearing would be immediately adjourned.

Mubarak faces trial with his two sons Alaa and Gamal, former interior minister Habib al-Adly and six of his deputies, and businessmen Hussein Salem.

They are all accused of corruption, and of ordering the killing of anti-regime protesters during the uprising that toppled Mubarak in January-February.

Egypt activists suspend Tahrir sit-in for Ramadhan

France 24, 31 July 2011 - 10H41

AFP -

Egyptian protesters camped out in Cairo's Tahrir Square said on Sunday they will suspend their sit-in during Ramadhan and will return to the square to press for reforms after the holy month is over.

Activists have been occupying Tahrir Square -- the epicentre of protests that toppled president Hosni Mubarak -- since July 8 to denounce the military rulers' handling of the transition.

Twenty-six political parties and protest movements said in a joint statement their three-week sit-in had succeeded in achieving some of their demands, "pushing the Egyptian revolution a step forward."

"But based on our belief that sit-ins are a means, and not a goal... the political parties and youth movements have decided to temporarily suspend their sit-in during the holy month of Ramadan," they said.

They stressed that they "will return once again after the Eid (feast marking the end of Ramadan) to protest peacefully in Tahrir Square so that the rest of the demands are met."

Protesters who first took to the streets to demand Mubarak's resignation have continued protesting to demand an end to the military trials of civilians, the speedy prosecution of former regime members guilty of abuse, and the redistribution of wealth.

Field Marshal Hussain Tantawi, head of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and Mubarak's long-time defence minister, pledged in a television address to work for a free system through fair elections and a constitution.

But the military rulers have accused the Tahrir protesters -- singling out the April 6 movement -- of driving a wedge between the people and the army.

Protesters have accused the SCAF of stalling reforms and of using Mubarak-era tactics to stifle dissent.

The military council has also come under fire from local and international rights groups for alleged rights abuses.

The holy month of Ramadhan, during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, begins on Monday in Egypt.

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