Egypt

‘Battle of the Camels’ trial resumes without reporters

The trial of former figures from the regime of former President Hosni Mubarak accused of planning and funding an assault on pro-democracy protesters at Cairo's Tahrir Square on 2 February resumed on Monday.

The assault, led by horse and camel riders, targeted peaceful protesters during the 18-day uprising.

During the trial's first session on Sunday, prosecutors charged the defendants with the manslaughter and the attempted murders of protesters.

The defendants are 25 figures from the former regime, including former Shura Council Speaker Safwat al-Sherif, former People's Assembly speaker Fathi Sorour, former Manpower and Immigration Minister Aisha Abdel Hady, and several other senior members of the previously-ruling National Democratic Party (NDP).

Reporters were enraged by a court decision to bar them from attending the second session, state-run newspaper Al-Ahram said on its website Monday.

Reporters wrangled with the court's security staff, who only allowed a few to attend, eyewitnesses said.

On Sunday, the court decided to halt the live broadcast of the trial.

Translated from the Arabic Edition

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