CAIRO - The trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, 83, will start on Aug. 3 in Cairo, a case that will reverberate across the Arab world where other longtime leaders are facing protests and unrest. Here are some facts about the charges raised against him and details of his trial. WHO IS ON TRIAL? Alongside the former president, who was in power for almost 30 years, his two sons, the former interior minister, six other senior police officers, and Mubarak confidant Hussein Salem, will be tried at the same time. Salem has fled the country. Here are some details about those on trial: * Mubarak's two sons, Alaa and Gamal, are awaiting trial in a prison on the suburbs of Cairo. Many believed his youngest son, Gamal, 47, was being groomed for the presidency. He held a senior post in the ruling party. His ascent and the apparent plan for succession, which father and son denied, was one of the reasons Egyptians protested, demanding power should not be "inherited". * Prominent businessman Hussein Salem was arrested on an international warrant and is currently hospitalised in Spain. The former intelligence chief was a close confidant of Mubarak. His charges included squandering public funds in a natural gas deal with Israel. * Former Interior Minister Habib al-Adli was one of the most hated figures in Mubarak's cabinet because of the brutal way his police force crushed any opposition to the president over the years and notably in the first few days after the uprising erupted on Jan. 25. Police used live ammunition, rubber bullets and teargas against protesters. Many families of victims of the uprising, lawyers, and activists turned up to earlier trial. Adli has already been sentenced to 12 years in jail for profiteering and money laundering. * Six other senior police officers, including four of Adli's deputies, are also being tried. They include Hassan Abd El Rahman, deputy minister for state security, and Adli Fayed, deputy minister for general security. WHAT ARE THE CHARGES? The public prosecutor accused Mubarak of conspiring with Adli and some police offices in pre-meditated murder and "attempting to kill some of the participants of peaceful protests across the country". About 850 people were killed in the uprising and over 6,000 wounded. Mubarak was accused of "inciting" some officers to use live ammunition to fire at protesters as well as running protesters over with their vehicles, so the former president could "protect his grip on power and stay in office." The former president is charged with using his position to secure wealth and privileges for himself and his two sons, including securing one palace on a large area and four villas in Sharm el-Sheikh. The prosecutor's office valued the property at 40 million Egyptian pounds ($6.7 million). The former president is charged with allowing Salem to acquire large tracts of state land in South Sinai province, a popular tourist destination. Mubarak is also accused of participating with former energy minister Sameh Fahmy and Salem in squandering public wealth in a natural gas deal with Israel. Fahmy and Salem are on trial separately over that deal. The prosecutor said Alaa and Gamal were charged with crimes committed in association with their father, adding other possible crimes involving graft were still being investigated.
