Clashes erupt outside Egyptian court trying ex-minister

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CAIRO — Hundreds of Egyptians angry with the delays in the trial of ex-interior minister Habib Adly clashed on Sunday with anti-riot police outside the courtroom, an AFP reporter witnessed.

Adly, once one of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak’s most trusted ministers, and six other defendants are accused of ordering the shooting of protesters during an 18-day popular uprising that toppled Mubarak.

Sunday’s session was postponed and a new hearing scheduled for July 25 pending a decision by the court of appeals on whether to allow more judges to attend the trial as requested by one of the defence lawyers.

The protesters, mainly relatives of people killed during the popular uprising that toppled Mubarak and his regime, threw rocks at police before Sunday’s hearing started and after it was adjourned.

An official inquiry said at least 846 people died in the unrest, most of them from gunshot wounds.

A May 21 hearing was also postponed after a courtroom scuffle broke out.

Last month, a court sentenced Adly to 12 years in jail for corruption.