Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi gave his testimony under a
total media blackout, with journalists barred from the court and forbidden to
report any leaked details of what he told the court. Many believe Tantawi, who
was Mubarak's defense minister for two decades, can be crucial in addressing
the key question of whether Mubarak ordered lethal force used against
protesters during the 18-day uprising against his rule.
Mubarak is charged with complicity in the deaths of nearly
840 protesters in the crackdown against the uprising, which ended with his
ouster on Feb. 11 and the handover of power to a military council headed by
Tantawi. Mubarak could face the death penalty if convicted, but so far most
testimonies, including from police officers, has distanced Mubarak from any
orders to shoot at protesters.
After Tantawi's nearly hour-long testimony, lawyers
representing the families of slain protesters demanded a new court, several
lawyers who were present told The Associated Press. The demand appeared to be in
connection with Tantawi's statements, which were covered by the publication
ban.
The lawyers spoke on condition of anonymity because of the
closed-door session.
Their motion potentially upends the trial, which began Aug.
3 with many in the country riveted to the sight of their ailing former leader,
who ruled for nearly 30 years, lying in a hospital gurney inside the courtroom
cage where defendants traditionally sit during trials in Egypt. Since then, the
trial has become complicated, with the judge halting live broadcasts of the
sessions and a series of police officer witnesses whose testimonies largely
came in favor of Mubarak.
The trial must now stop until a higher court rules on the
lawyers' demand. If the higher court accepts the motion, the trial will have to
restart from the beginning with a new court and a new judge.
If the higher court rules against the lawyers' motion, the
current trial will resume on Oct. 30 with testimony by chief of staff Lt. Gen.
Sami Hafez Anan, the second-highest ranking official in the ruling military
council, who was initially set to testify on Sunday.
The summoning of Tantawi was a dramatic move. It is unheard
of for a head of state in Egypt — or the Arab world — to be called to give
testimony in a court, and it is perhaps even more startling for the head of
Egypt's deeply secretive and powerful military to take the stand.
Tantawi arrived under military escort early morning at the
heavily guarded courtroom in Cairo for the nearly hour-long testimony. Mubarak
was present in the courtroom during Tantawi's testimony, lying on a gurney
inside the defendants' cage.
Lawyers representing some of the people killed in the
uprising complained Tantawi gave evidence earlier than usual and left the
courthouse without allowing them to cross-examine him.
"The measures were unusual ... The session started very
early," attorney Wael Zekri told reporters. "By the time the lawyers
arrived, the testimony was over."
