CAIRO, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- A judge called for a recess in the trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after his former intelligence chief and vice president testified Tuesday.
Omar Suleiman, former intelligence chief and one-time vice president, testified in the murder trial for Mubarak and members of his inner circle. Suleiman is one of the highest-ranking officials of the Mubarak regime to appear before the court.
Suleiman testified in an earlier case that Mubarak was fully aware that security forces were using deadly force against civilian demonstrators. Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm reports, however, that more recent reports are conflicted.
He left court in his own vehicle after the judge recessed the trial until later this month.
Skirmishes broke out in front of the court last week when top-ranking police officials changed their testimony in the case. The court, the Egyptian newspaper said, has imposed a gag order on testimony during the trial.
Mohamad Tantawi, Egypt's military leader and defense minister under Mubarak, said his current duties prevented him from testifying as scheduled. The BBC reported during the weekend his testimony could shed light on what Mubarak knew during the revolution that ultimately forced his ouster.
Mubarak denies the charges against him.
