Mubarak escapes death penalty in Cairo court | WPN World People News

Egypt's former president, Hosni Mubarak, has been found guilty over his role in the killings of protesters during the uprising that forced his downfall.

Mubarak's much-hated interior minister, Habib al-Adly, was also found guilty, but other top security officials were acquitted.

In his summing up the judge said Mubarak and Adly had failed to stop security forces using deadly force against unarmed demonstrators.

Mubarak and his two sons were acquitted on separate charges of corruption.

Alaa and Gamal Mubarak will remain in detention preceding trial on charges of stock market manipulation.

Conflicting reactions to the courtroom verdict were expected, with some Egyptians expressing anger that the death penalty wasn't handed down to Mubarak on the killing charges.

Others said they had concerns that the sentences against Mubarak and al-Adly could be overturned on appeal.

Anti-Mubarak protesters who had been hoping for the death penalty have since gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square, where crowds have been building since Saturday.

The acquittal of other key security officials in the old Mubarak regime has sparked anger amongst the protesters, who are also said to be gathering in Egypt's second city Alexandria, as well as in Suez and Mansoura.

Four high-ranking interior ministry chiefs and two regional security chiefs had been accused of complicity in the deaths of protesters.

Members of the Muslim Brotherhood, which was the main opposition during Mubarak's rule, have promised to re-investigate the killings of the protesters if elected.

Source: Egypt News.Net