Health concerns loom for Mubarak

CAIRO, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak could miss the opening day of a trial on charges related to deaths during anti-regime protests, his legal team said.

Mubarak, along with his sons Alaa, Gamal and former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly, are to face a Cairo court Wednesday. They are accused of having a role in the deaths of unarmed protesters during the revolution that ended Mubarak's three-decade reign in February.

Mubarak's health has been in decline for more than a year. He was said to be refusing food and in a state of severe depression. A member of his defense team was quoted as saying Mubarak, 82, could miss the trial's opening session because of "deteriorating health," Egyptian news agency al-Ahram reports.

Former Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman told prosecutors in May that Mubarak knew of the events unfolding during the revolution. Hundreds of people were killed in Egyptian protests and thousands of others were injured.

Suleiman said Mubarak didn't do anything to stop the violence nor did he oppose of shooting protesters. The president was receiving hourly reports from Adly during the unrest in January and February, the vice president added.

Opposition groups expressed frustration following the court's decision. Demonstrators have reoccupied Cairo's Tahrir Square, calling for swift justice for members of Mubarak's regime.

Tanks rolled into the square Monday to break up the protests.