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CAIRO: An Egyptian committee set up to investigate violence during demonstrations that toppled Hosni Mubarak has laid charges against the former president for the murder of protesters, a state newspaper said.
The committee had also accused the former interior minister of ordering police to open fire at demonstrators, Al Ahram newspaper said on Wednesday.
The Public Prosecutor later referred Habib Al-Adli and four other high-ranking officers for trial on charges of killing protesters, disrupting stability and of spreading “chaos in the country” that harmed Egypt’s economy, a statement said.
More than 360 people died in the uprising and thousands were injured when police fired rubber bullets, live ammunition, water cannon and tear gas at peaceful protesters.
The fact-finding committee submitted its charges to the Public Prosecutor’s office, saying Mubarak as the head of the government was criminally responsible for the deaths of the protesters.
The former interior minister is charged with responsibility for the withdrawal of policemen from the streets after Jan. 28, when protesters violently clashed with security forces and the army was deployed.
Many Egyptians questioned why even traffic police had disappeared and some have blamed Adli for intentionally withdrawing security to spread chaos and to cause a security vacuum.
Dozens of prisons across the country were broken into. Egypt’s independent media said Adli had told officers to leave the prisons unguarded and some even accused the former interior minister of releasing criminals to the streets.
Egyptians complained about a security vacuum for over a month and said they had been terrorized by outlaws who carried out thefts, armed attacks on citizens and property and even broke into schools.
Adli is already facing trial for wasting public funds and money laundering.
Also on Wednesday, Egypt’s military rulers endorsed a package of constitutional amendments adopted in a nationwide referendum, paving the way for parliamentary and presidential elections within months.
Critics fear the swift timetable could boost the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood and members of the former ruling party, but the amendments were overwhelming approved by Egyptian voters last week.
Wednesday’s declaration by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces fills a vacuum left by the suspension of Egypt’s constitution following a popular uprising that led to the ouster of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak on Feb. 11. He handed power to the military, which has promised to set the country on the path to democratic reform.
It didn’t specify a timetable for elections, but the military rulers have said they are eager to hand over power as soon as possible to a civilian government.
The amendments eased conditions for independent candidates to run elections and limited presidents to two four-year terms. They also ensured fair and free elections.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Cabinet has proposed a new law that would criminalize some forms of protest.
Cabinet spokesman Magdi Radi said the law, if passed, would mean punishment for those involved in protests that stop work or destroy property.
He says the Cabinet forwarded the proposal to the military council. It remains unclear when or if the military will adopt the law, which suggests prison terms and fines of up to about $84,000 for violators.
The proposal reflects deep fears among Egypt’s rulers that continued strikes and protests will hamper economic recovery.
Others criticize such moves for seeking to limit the type of activism that overthrew the Mubarak regime.
The committee had also accused the former interior minister of ordering police to open fire at demonstrators, Al Ahram newspaper said on Wednesday.
The Public Prosecutor later referred Habib Al-Adli and four other high-ranking officers for trial on charges of killing protesters, disrupting stability and of spreading “chaos in the country” that harmed Egypt’s economy, a statement said.
More than 360 people died in the uprising and thousands were injured when police fired rubber bullets, live ammunition, water cannon and tear gas at peaceful protesters.
The fact-finding committee submitted its charges to the Public Prosecutor’s office, saying Mubarak as the head of the government was criminally responsible for the deaths of the protesters.
The former interior minister is charged with responsibility for the withdrawal of policemen from the streets after Jan. 28, when protesters violently clashed with security forces and the army was deployed.
Many Egyptians questioned why even traffic police had disappeared and some have blamed Adli for intentionally withdrawing security to spread chaos and to cause a security vacuum.
Dozens of prisons across the country were broken into. Egypt’s independent media said Adli had told officers to leave the prisons unguarded and some even accused the former interior minister of releasing criminals to the streets.
Egyptians complained about a security vacuum for over a month and said they had been terrorized by outlaws who carried out thefts, armed attacks on citizens and property and even broke into schools.
Adli is already facing trial for wasting public funds and money laundering.
Also on Wednesday, Egypt’s military rulers endorsed a package of constitutional amendments adopted in a nationwide referendum, paving the way for parliamentary and presidential elections within months.
Critics fear the swift timetable could boost the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood and members of the former ruling party, but the amendments were overwhelming approved by Egyptian voters last week.
Wednesday’s declaration by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces fills a vacuum left by the suspension of Egypt’s constitution following a popular uprising that led to the ouster of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak on Feb. 11. He handed power to the military, which has promised to set the country on the path to democratic reform.
It didn’t specify a timetable for elections, but the military rulers have said they are eager to hand over power as soon as possible to a civilian government.
The amendments eased conditions for independent candidates to run elections and limited presidents to two four-year terms. They also ensured fair and free elections.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Cabinet has proposed a new law that would criminalize some forms of protest.
Cabinet spokesman Magdi Radi said the law, if passed, would mean punishment for those involved in protests that stop work or destroy property.
He says the Cabinet forwarded the proposal to the military council. It remains unclear when or if the military will adopt the law, which suggests prison terms and fines of up to about $84,000 for violators.
The proposal reflects deep fears among Egypt’s rulers that continued strikes and protests will hamper economic recovery.
Others criticize such moves for seeking to limit the type of activism that overthrew the Mubarak regime.
