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Mubarak weeps before cameras during trial

Egypt's former president Mubarak sobs during his trial on charges of killing demonstrators during the 25 January 2011 revolution
Deposed president of Egypt Hosni Mubarak on trial in Cairo courtroom on 31 May (AA)

Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak on Saturday sobbed as soon as he entered a cage in a Cairo courtroom during his trial on charges of killing demonstrators during the January 25 revolution, which ended his rule in 2011.

Mubarak, wearing a prison suit, wiped his tears as soon as he entered the cage, where he stood along his two sons Gamal and Alaa, before waving to his supporters inside the courtroom.

Court judges decided to adjourn the trial until Sunday to give the defence lawyer a chance to complete his case.

Mubarak's tears were the main fodder for media coverage of the trial on Saturday.

However, a Facebook page backing the ex-president belied reports about his tears, saying a war veteran like him cannot allow his tears to fall down before the public.

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Mubarak was sentenced to three years and his two sons to four years each in prison on 21 May after being convicted of financial violations. 

Having ruled Egypt for three decades, Mubarak, a former army general, was toppled in 2011 when millions of Egyptians took to the streets demanding an end to his rule.

Observers say Mubarak had wanted to establish a dynastic rule in Egypt by grooming his younger son, Gamal, a banker-turned-politician, to succeed him.

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