Former Arab League chief and presidential hopeful Amr Moussa said Wednesday that the trial of former President Hosni Mubarak should be wrapped up as soon as possible.
Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, as well as former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six former security officials, are facing trial at the Cairo Criminal Court on charges of corruption and involvement in killing protesters during the 25 January revolution.
The trial, which began in August, is scheduled to resume on 28 December amid sharp criticism from activists for its sluggish pace. The court adjourned in late October to await an appeals court ruling on a request to replace the presiding judges. The appeals court rejected the request this week.
“Mubarak is explicitly involved [in killing protesters]. The trial must continue with transparency and end as soon as possible,” Moussa said while speaking at Ain Shams University on Wednesday.
Asked whether he would pardon Mubarak if he became president, Moussa said that he would not. "Mubarak is responsible for the huge imbalances that have hit Egypt," he added.
Commenting on Islamist election victories in the first phase of People's Assembly elections, Moussa said, "The time is still too early to talk about the results of parliamentary elections, as there are two other stages."
"In case Islamists win a majority of seats, we all have to accept this because we call for democracy, we have to respect what it brings. … When we also call for rebuilding Egypt, this requires non-discrimination and equality between all Egyptians," he said.
