Egypt Court Drops Murder Charge Against Mubarak

Egypt's Hosni Mubarak (centre) waves as he is transported to the Maadi military hospital in Cairo, on November 29, 2014, after a court dismissed a murder charge against the ousted leader over the deaths of protesters during a 2011 uprising ©Khaled Desouki (AFP)

An Egyptian court dismissed Saturday a murder charge against Hosni Mubarak over the deaths of protesters during the 2011 uprising, sparking a Cairo demonstration that police dispersed with tear gas.

Mubarak, who ruled for three decades until being driven from office, was also acquitted of a corruption charge but will remain in jail on a three-year sentence in a separate graft case.

The ruling enraged the strongman's opponents, with about 1,000 converging on a central Cairo square to denounce the government. Police fired tear gas to disperse them and arrested at least 20.

Seven of Mubarak's security commanders, including feared former interior minister Habib al-Adly, were acquitted over the deaths of some of the roughly 800 people killed during the revolt.

A supporter of Egypt's former president Hosni Mubara kisses his portrait outside Maadi military hospital in Cairo on November 29, 2014 after a court dismissed a murder charge against the ousted leader ©Khaled Desouki (AFP)

Cheers erupted in court and Mubarak's sons Alaa and Gamal kissed his forehead when the judge read the verdict in the retrial as the ex-president, 86, lay in an upright stretcher inside the caged dock.

Corruption charges against the sons were also dropped.

The usually stone-faced Mubarak, wearing his trademark sunglasses, allowed himself a faint smile after the verdict was read.

But relatives of those killed expressed dismay.

More than 1,000 protesters gathered at an entrance to Cairo's Tahrir Square -- the hub of the revolt -- chanting "The people demand the toppling of the regime".

They scattered into side streets when police fired tear gas and used water cannon.

An appeals court had overturned an initial life sentence for Mubarak in 2012 on a technicality. Saturday's verdict may also be appealed.