Lawyer accuses Tantawi of perjury

Cairo: A lawyer representing victims of the Hosni Mubarak regime's crackdown on a mass uprising has accused the head of Egypt's ruling military council and the former vice-president of lying to the court on behalf of the overthrown leader.

The 83-year-old former president and some of his top former security officials are facing charges of complicity in the killings of protesters during the 18-day uprising that eventually forced Mubarak from power in February. Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and one-time heir apparent Jamal, also face corruption charges in the same case.

Combined trial

Mubarak's trial lumps together a criminal case that the state prosecutor is conducting on charges of killing protesters and corruption.

A civil case against some of the defendants, where lawyers for the victims are seeking compensation for deaths and injuries, is being heard simultaneously in the same courtroom.

Amir Salem, who represents families of the victims in the civil case, alleged in court that both Field Marshal Hussain Tantawi, the head of ruling military council that took power from Mubarak, and former vice-president Omar Suleiman both lied in testimony in September.

Salem also introduced a CD as evidence showing armed civilians attacking protesters during the uprising under the watchful eyes of the elite Republican Guards. "They didn't tell the truth in order to protect the defendants," he told court, referring to Mubarak and his aides.

Former aides

Tantawi was Egypt's defence minister under Mubarak for 20 years, while Sulaiman held the powerful position of intelligence chief for years.

Tantawi and Sulaiman testified during proceedings that were out of bounds for the media. But leaked reports said they both denied knowledge of whether Mubarak had given orders to kill protesters, or even learned about deaths but failed to give orders to stop the killings. Another lawyer for the victims, Khalid Abu Bakr, said Mubarak's former interior minister Habib Al Adly said that he notified Mubarak of killings in the flashpoint city of Suez and Mubarak didn't give orders to stop shooting. Al Adly is also on trial with Mubarak on the charges related to killing protesters.

"All the crimes took place with his knowledge," Abu Bakr said.