LEAD: Plaintiff lawyers echo death penalty demand for Mubarak

By Nehal El-Sherif Jan 9, 2012, 16:41 GMT

Cairo - Lawyers of the victims killed or injured during the 2011 Egyptian uprising demanded the death penalty for ousted president Hosny Mubarak on Monday, echoing prosecution demands made last week in the trial's closing arguments.

Prosecutors demanded the death penalty for Mubarak, for his alleged involvement in ordering the killing of hundreds of protesters during a revolt that led to his ousting from power in February.

At least 846 people were killed during the protests.

One of the lawyers of the victims said Monday that the head of the country's military ruling council, Hussein Tantawi, and former vice president and spy chief Omar Suleiman lied in their behind-closed-doors testimony.

Amir Salem, who represents families of 40 victims at Mubarak's trial, made the accusation as he was giving his closing argument.

In September, both Tantawi and Suleiman testified in closed sessions, barred to the media.

Former interior minister Habib al-Adly and six former senior ministry officials face the same charges as Mubarak.

Salem also said police had set up a network of 165,000 thugs who have wreaked havoc in the country for years and are still operating.

He said the country's 30-year-old emergency law was what enabled Mubarak's 'tyranny.'

Sameh Ashur, the lead lawyer for victims' families, stressed that Mubarak's crimes began before the uprising began on January 25, 2011. He said Mubarak was planning for years to pass on power to his son, Gamal.

Ashur said that two of Mubarak's speeches during the 18 days of protest prove that Mubarak knew about the violence committed against protesters, state media said.

He also referred to a meeting between Mubarak, al-Adly and other cabinet members five days before the uprising began, in which the decision to cut mobile and internet lines was allegedly taken.

'This shows that it was not a spontaneous decision, it was rather deliberately planned before January 25,' Ashur told the court.

The 83-year-old Mubarak, his sons - Alaa and Gamal - and fugitive businessman Hussein Salem also face charges of corruption and of wasting public funds. They are accused of selling Egyptian exports to Israel at prices lower than the market value.

Presiding Judge Ahmed Refaat adjourned the trial until Tuesday so that the lawyers of the victims can continue their final arguments.

A small group of protesters and families of the victims gathered outside the Police Academy, on the outskirts of Cairo, where the trial is being held. They shouted anti-Mubarak slogans and called for his execution.

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