Mubarak called “tyrant” in the courtroom

The trial of disgraced and former Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, resumed on Tuesday to harsh words from the chief prosecutor: the ousted leader imposed “tyrannical rule” on Egyptians in his 30 years in power, AP reports.

"He deserves an end of humiliation and indignity — from the presidential palace to the defendants' cage and then the harshest penalty," said chief prosecutor, Mustafa Suleiman, according to AP.

Suleiman and his prosecution team have three days to state their case against Mubarak and 10 other defendants, including his security chief.

Mubarak is charged with his role in the deaths of more than 800 protestors during his regime’s bloody crackdown on a popular uprising that pushed him from power nearly a year ago. His trial began on Aug. 3, 2011 but was delayed for procedural reasons. 

It officially resumed in Cairo on Monday

Many Egyptian activists are worried the former dictator will be acquitted, after a Cairo court acquitted last week five Egyptian policemen charged with killing five protestors during the uprising. 

Despite Mubarak's ouster, anger over continued police brutality has been a key catalyst for recent protests and unrest in the capital. At least 14 protestors were killed in clashes with police and army in Cairo in December.

Are you with The World?

The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.