Mubarak spectacle stuns Egyptians

The spectacle of Hosni Mubarak in a caged court dock, aired live on state television, was a stunning moment for Egyptians.

Many savoured the humiliation of the man who ruled with unquestionable power for 29 years, during which opponents were tortured, corruption was rife, poverty spread and political life was stifled.

After widespread scepticism that Egypt's military rulers would allow one of their own - a former head of the air force - to be prosecuted in front of the world, the scene went a long way to satisfy one of the key demands that has united protesters since February 11, when Mubarak fell following an 18-day uprising.

"This is the dream of Egyptians, to see him like this, humiliated like he humiliated them for the last 30 years," said Ghada Ali, the mother of a 17-year old girl in the city of Alexandria who was shot dead during the crackdown.

"I want to see their heart explode like my daughter's heart exploded from their single bullet," she said, breaking down in sobs.

It was the first time Egyptians have seen Mubarak since February 10, when he gave a defiant TV address refusing to resign.

In the courtroom, a prosecutor read the charges against Mubarak - that he was an accomplice along with this then-interior minister in the "intentional and premeditated murder of peaceful protesters" and that he and his sons received gifts from a prominent businessman in return for guaranteeing him a lowered price in a land deal with the state.

"Yes, I am here," Mubarak said from his bed, raising his hand slightly when the judge asked him to identify himself and enter a plea. "I deny all these accusations completely," he said into a microphone, wagging his finger. His sons also pleaded not guilty.

The emotions swirling around the trial were on display outside the heavily secured Cairo police academy where the trial was held.

A crowd of Mubarak supporters and hundreds of relatives of dead protesters and other Mubarak opponents massed at the gates, scuffling sporadically as they watched the proceedings on a giant screen. They threw stones and bottles at each other while riot police with shields and helmets tried to keep them apart.

About 50 supporters pounded on the steel gate trying to get into the compound, chanting "We Love you, Mubarak!" until police charged at the with electrified batons and dispersed them. "We will demolish and burn the prison if they convict Mubarak," they screamed. Some of the supporters had bandaged heads from beatings, and many wore t-shirts with the slogan, "I am Egyptian and I reject the insulting of our leader."

But the father of a dead protester, among those sweltering in the heat outside on the third day of fasting in the Muslim month of Ramadan, was ecstatic. "We are here to tell Hosni, 'Happy Ramadan, congratulations on your new cage,'" Mohammed Mustafa el-Aqad said.

Wednesday's court session was largely taken up by procedural measures as lawyers from both sides filed motions.

But no matter how dry the action, the sight of Egypt's one-time most powerful man inside the defendants' cage, made of iron bars and metal mesh was riveting. Defendants are traditionally held in cages during trials in Egypt.

Mubarak, a sheet pulled up to his chest, was wheeled into the cage on a hospital bed at the session's start. Though he was pale and his eyes were ringed with red, he appeared alert and aware of what was going on. He showed little discernible emotion. With him in the cage were his nine co-defendants, including his two sons - one-time heir apparent Gamal and wealthy businessman Alaa - his former interior minister Habib el-Adly, and six top former police officials.

Up to the last minute, many Egyptians had doubted that Mubarak would actually appear at the trial. The scepticism remained up until the moment early Wednesday when Mubarak was taken from his hospital room in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to a military plane that flew him to a military airport in Cairo. From there, he was transferred by helicopter to the police academy where the trial was held.

Mostafa el-Naggar, one of the leading youth activists who organised the anti-Mubarak uprising, called it "a moment no Egyptian ever thought was possible."

"I have many feelings. I am happy, satisfied. I feel this a real success for the revolution, and I feel that the moment of real retribution is near," he said.

The prosecution is an unprecedented moment in the Arab world, the first time a modern Middle East leader has been put on trial fully by his own people.