Retrial of Egypt's Mubarak Begins


TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The retrial has begun in Cairo of Hosni Mubarak on charges of complicity in the killings of protesters during the uprising that toppled him two years ago.

The deposed Egyptian president was escorted by medical and security personnel on Sunday into an ambulance to be taken by helicopter from Maadi Military Hospital to the Cairo Police Academy where he faces judges again.

Mubarak's co-defendants, his two sons and the former interior minister, Habib al-Adly, also arrived at the Police Academy amid heavy security presence.

Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay, reporting from outside the academy, said Mubarak's initial appearance was likely to be procedural.

The defence team demanded the testimony of Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, current defence minister and head of the armed force, because he was the director of military intelligence during Mubarak's rule.

The court session was adjourned for recess.

Mubarak, 85, was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison last year for complicity in the killing of about 900 protesters during the 18-day revolt against him in 2011.

He is being retried after his successful appeal against the previous conviction.