Egypt's "camel attack" trial to continue behind closed doors

The trial of 25 former officials and politicians charged with masterminding an attack on anti-government demonstrators using horse and camel riders in Egypt will continue under a media ban, court officials said Sunday, dpa reported.

The judge ordered all cameras and reporters to leave the court hall, located on the outskirts of Cairo, before resuming the hearing behind closed doors.

The judge said broadcasts would only resume when the verdict is eventually announced.

Evidence and testimonies from at least 13 witnesses are due to be submitted over the next three days, official media reported.

The defendants are accused of commissioning gangs of horse and camel riders to attack and kill protesters camped out in Cairo's Tahrir Square in February during demonstrations against then president Hosny Mubarak.

Former speakers of both houses of parliament, Safwat al-Sherif and Ahmed Fathi Sorour, are among other close associates of Mubarak and members of his now-disbanded party who face trial.

The prosecutor said the defendants "rallied criminals from the different constituents to terrorize and attack peaceful protesters."

The violence left many suffering from permanent disabilities.

All of the defendants denied the charges Sunday.

The case is known in the local media as the "Camel Battle."

Mubarak was toppled in February following an 18-day popular revolt in which at least 846 people were killed and more than 6,000 injured, according to a fact-finding commission. Mubarak is facing a separate trial for allegedly ordering attacks on demonstrators.