Mubarak waves to supporters as his trial resumes in Cairo

PanARMENIAN.Net - Egypt's ousted long-time autocrat is back in court as his trial resumes on charges related to the killings of some 900 protesters during the 2011 uprising that led to his ouster.

According to the Associated Press, the 85-year-old Hosni Mubarak was wheeled into the defendants' cage in a heavily-fortified courtroom in Cairo on Saturday, Sept 14, sitting upright, confident and waving to supporters.

It's his second court appearance since he was released from prison in August and transferred to a military hospital where he is being detained pending trial on other, corruption charges.

Mubarak was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for failing to stop the 2011 killings, but his sentence was overturned on appeal earlier this year and a retrial was ordered.

Mubarak's two sons and a former security chief are also in court with him

On Friday, Egypt's prosecution ordered a 30-day extension for another former president, Mohammed Morsi's detainment.

Morsi is accused of conspiring with Hamas to break into prisons and attack state institutions, as well as involvement in murder and attempted murder during the January 2011 revolt against Mubarak's regime.

Before ascending to power in 2012, Morsi and other Muslim Brotherhood members were arrested by police on Jan 28, 2011, during the 18-day popular uprising. Two days later, Morsi and other prisoners escaped after armed men stormed the prison where they were detained.

Morsi was referred to trial two weeks ago on charges of inciting violence on Dec 5 of last year when his supporters and opponents clashed at the presidential palace over a constitutional declaration -- leaving at least nine people dead.

The prosecution also ordered a 30-day extension of the detainment of Morsi's former chief of staff, Mohamed Refaa al-Tahtawi, over the same accusations.

In response to the prosecution's detainment extension, thousands of the deposed president's supporters took to the streets in what appeared to be larger demonstrations than usual, with several descending into violence.

In the coastal city of Alexandria, hundreds of Brotherhood supporters marched after Friday prayers from a main mosque to a major thoroughfare, where they confronted a rally by Morsi opponents. State television showed footage of anti-Morsi protesters tearing down his posters and chasing Brotherhood supporters through the streets.