CAIRO – The trial of Egypt's toppled president Hosni Mubarak, his two sons and his interior minister will be held in Cairo, a key judicial official said on Thursday, as the health minister said the former leader was fit for transfer. "Mubarak's trial will be held on premises of the General Organisation for International Exhibitions and Fairs in Cairo's Nasr City on August 3," Deputy Minister of Justice for Court Affairs Mohamed Manie told the official Middle East News Agency (MENA). The trial will also include Mubarak's two sons, Gamal and Alaa, fugitive tycoon Hussein Salem, former Interior Minister Habib el-Adli and six of his senior aides, on charges of being involved in killing protesters during the 18-day protest, which toppled Egypt's 30-year ruler. "The courtroom, the seating and the cage, which will contain the 11 accused, as well as an area for media men, are all being prepared," Manie added. He said that unprecedented security measures are being taken to secure the trial, which a State-owned TV channel will broadcast, while other channels will have the right to transmit the proceedings too. The security measures will also extend to electronic gates. Holding swift trials for Mubarak and former officials in his government has been a main demand of protesters. At least 846 people were killed in the uprising that started on January 25 and culminated with Mubarak ceding interim authority to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces on February 11. Mubarak, who has been in hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh since April, having developed a heart complaint after being questioned about the charges against him, is in good shape, with his blood pressure normal, according to a Ministry of Health statement on Thursday. In related news, lawyer Youssri Abdel-Raziq, who recently obtained a ruling to stop Mubarak's name being removed from public institutions, file a lawsuit on Thursday to have Mubarak's trial halted, according to Al-Wafd website. Meanwhile, Egypt's Minister of Tourism Munir Fakhri Abdel-Nur said on Thursday that the trial of Mubarak in Cairo wouldn't negatively affect tourism, adding that it's better for tourism for Mubarak to be tried in Cairo, as Sharm el-Sheikh is an iconic area for tourism. The Minister stressed that Mubarak has been in hospital in Sharm since April, having developed a heart complaint after being questioned about the charges against him. Mubarak's staying in Sharm el-Sheikh has had a negative effect on tourism there. Abdel-Nur urged the media to help promote tourism by depicting Egypt as a safe place to visit. Some media men have been exaggerating the extent of the recent chaos in Egypt, caused by a few outlaws and thugs. Many Egyptians say they doubt that they will ever see Mubarak, a decorated former air force officer, stand trial as long as the military leadership remains in control.
