New trial for Egypt's Mubarak set for May 11

A retrial of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak over his role in the deaths of protesters in 2011 is to open on May 11, judicial sources said today.

The trial will be presided by Judge Mahmud al-Rashidi at the North Cairo Criminal Court, the sources told AFP.

The retrial was meant to begin on April 13, but Judge Mostafa Hassan Abdallah recused himself in an opening session that lasted just seconds and sent the case to the Court of Appeal to choose a new circuit.

In October, the same judge had acquitted defendants in the infamous "Battle of the Camels" trial, who were accused of sending men on camels and horses to break up a protest during the 2011 uprising that toppled Mubarak.

Mubarak, his former interior minister Habib al-Adly and six security chiefs are charged with complicity in the murder and attempted murder of hundreds of peaceful protesters on January 25-31, 2011.

Mubarak's sons, Alaa and Gamal will face corruption charges along with their father and fugitive businessman Hussein Salem.