Prosecutors refute Mubarak's defense team

CAIRO, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Egyptian prosecutors at the Cairo trial of former President Hosni Mubarak say the Interior Ministry has hindered prosecution efforts.

Responding to closing statements by Mubarak's attorneys, state prosecutor Mostafa Soliman said interior officials failed to assist in efforts to determine who was behind the killing of unarmed pro-democracy protesters in Tahrir Square last year, Ahram Online reported.

Mubarak, former interior minister Habib el-Adly and six interior ministry assistants are accused of ordering the shooting of protesters last year. Mubarak also faces corruption charges along with his sons, Gamal and Alaa, and business tycoon Hussein Salem.

Prosecutors say defense attorneys failed to provide evidence that foreign nations or groups were involved in killing protesters during last year's uprising.