Mohamed Morsy

Mubarak's retrial adjourned indefinitely as judge recuses

Cairo: Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's retrial was indefinitely adjourned on Saturday after the presiding judge withdrew from the case and referred it to a lower court, triggering angry protests in the courtroom. Judge Mustafa Hassan Abdullah announced his decision to recuse himself minutes after the retrial opened at a Police Academy on the outskirts of Cairo, citing "embarrassment" over the proceedings, according to state-run news agency MENA.

Abdullah said he referred the case to the Court of Appeal amid shouting in the courtroom, where the 84-year-old former dictator had earlier been flown in by a helicopter to face the retrial over the charges linked to nearly 900 protesters' death during the 2011 uprising against his 29-year-old regime.

The judge "submitted a medical report to the head of Cairo Cassation Court stating that he has medical problems with his eyes," Mubarak's lawyer Farid El Deeb was quoted as saying in the media. Egyptian law requires a judge to recuse himself publicly.

Abdullah was presiding over the retrial of Mubarak, his two sons Alaa and Gamal, fugitive businessman Hussein Salem, ex-interior minister Habib el-Adli and six of his top aides. Mubarak's earlier trial ended in early June 2012, where he was sentenced to 25 years in prison, the maximum amount of jail time in Egypt. ...more    

Egypt on high alert as election result imminent

Cairo: Egypt's ruling armed forces were on high alert on Sunday as fears of violence mounted in the final hours before the state election committee is to name the winner of last weekend's presidential election at 1:00 pm GMT. Mohamed Morsy of the long-oppressed Muslim Brotherhood has already claimed to be the successor to the ousted Hosni Mubarak. Millions of his Islamist loyalists may react with fury if the run-off...  

Protest at Tahir Square as Egypt awaits result

Cairo: Thousands of protesters filled Cairo's Tahrir Square overnight as Egypt's rival presidential candidates, an Islamist and former general, accused each of trying to steal an election whose result is still not known five days after polling ended. Another two days of uncertainty and name calling seem likely over the weekend which begins on Friday, though there was no immediate violence. With confidence ebbing away in a process Egyptians hoped...  

US alarm as Egypt Army undermines election result

Cairo: The United States expressed alarm that its proteges in the Egyptian Army were abusing hopes for democracy by ordering more military rule just as the Muslim Brotherhood was claiming victory in the country's first free presidential election. The Islamists' self-assurance was contested by the other candidate in the run-off race, a former general who was prime minister when Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year by an Army anxious to...