CAIRO: Fresh clashes erupted on Wednesday between loyalists and foes of Egypt’s former president Hosni Mubarak who was being tried on murder charges.
Pro-Mubarak protesters who had gathered outside the Cairo Police Academy — where the former strongman was on trial with his sons, the ex-interior minister and six security chiefs — clashed with his opponents as the judge ordered a short recess.
The crowd, including families of victims who died during the uprising that toppled Mubarak, had been watching the trial on a large screen outside the Police Academy when Judge Ahmed Refaat adjourned the session for a short break.
Security forces intervened to separate both sides amid a highly charged atmosphere.
There had already been confrontations when the trial started, as anti-Mubarak protesters and loyalists threw stones at each other.
The court session resumed later on Wednesday.
Mubarak, who was flown in from the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, appeared in the dock on a stretcher along with his two sons Alaa and Gamal, ex-interior minister Habib Al-Adly and six security chiefs, on charges of fraud and murder.
