End to TV coverage of Mubarak case angers opponents

End to TV coverage of Mubarak case angers opponents

The decision of the judge presiding over the trial of Hosni Mubarak to stop TV coverage of the proceeding of the case until the case concludes has enraged opponents of the deposed president.

They had vowed to challenge the decision with protests in downtown Cairo.

Reactions

“Preposterous!,'' said an engineer, Sherif Mohamed, who was watching the trial outside the court building in Cairo. “The case is necessary for public opinion. Not airing it live means there is a deal with Mubarak.''

Lawyers were also split over whether suspending television coverage of the trial was a good thing, and Monday's session was marked by rowdy exchanges and scuffles between the dozens of lawyers who pressed towards the bench to make their demands.

“The Egyptian public needs a transparent trial at this stage. If they cannot see what is happening, rumours will circulate and the degree of vagueness surrounding the trial will increase," said plaintiff lawyer Mahmoud el-Khoudary.

In his own opinion, a lawyer to some of the plaintiffs, Ahmed Hamrawi said: “It is understandable to cut live feed of this sensational trial. There are lawyers who are more concerned about appearing in front of the camera than putting up a good argument and from now the trial session will be more focussed and less chaotic."

Mubarak is standing trial for authorising the use of live ammunition to shoot protesters, of corruption and abuse of power, and Judge Refaat ordered the trial be merged with that of Mubarak's Interior Minister, Habib al-Adli and six others who face similar charges in order to streamline the processes.

The judge has postponed the hearing until September 5 after Mubarak's lawyer Farid al-Deeb requested time to view all the documents submitted to court.

Analysts said judging and punishing Mubarak swiftly could assuage the population and ease a peaceful transition to civilian rule.

They however said that with so many witnesses, lawyers, plaintiffs and varied charges, it could drag on for months or years.

REUTERS/Shakira/Williams