Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was flown to Cairo Wednesday morning for the start of his historic trial on charges of corruption and ordering the killing of protesters during Egypt's 25 January uprising. Outside the trial venue, scuffles broke out between hundreds of supporters and opponents of the ex-president. Hundreds of policemen separated demonstrators hurling stones and bottles at each other.
Security officials, quoted by the AP, said Mubarak's plane landed at a military airport in Cairo and he was to be flown with his medical team by helicopter to the trial venue in the Police Academy. Mubarak is expected to appear during the trial sitting in a cage set up for him and his co-defendants.
Before the clashes erupted, some 50 of Mubarak's loyalists chanting slogans and holding portraits of the former leader gathered outside the venue. "We will demolish and burn the prison if they convict Mubarak," they said.
Mubarak, his former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly, and six top police officers are charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with the 850 protesters killed during the uprising, according to the official charge sheet. All eight could face the death penalty if convicted.
