CAIRO — Egypt's former President Hosni Mubarak will become the first Arab head of state to face trial after being deposed by his own people, marking a pivotal moment in the revolutions that have swept across more than half a dozen nations since the start of the year.Check the Google page if WSJ's behind the paywall.
Mr. Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, will face charges of "intentional murder, attempted murder of demonstrators, abuse of power to intentionally waste public funds and unlawfully profiting from public funds for them and for others," Egypt's attorney general said Tuesday.
If found guilty of murder charges, Mr. Mubarak could face the death penalty, said Nasser Amin, an Egyptian lawyer and member of the International Criminal Court.
The date for the trial hasn't been announced. But the decision to try Mr. Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years, raises the stakes for uprisings in Libya, Syria and Yemen.
For the U.S., the spectacle of a trial could prove embarrassing and will likely complicate its diplomatic efforts in the region. Mr. Mubarak was for decades one of America's staunchest allies in the Arab world and a leading recipient of U.S. aid. Prosecution of an Arab leader who agreed to step down and hand over power is likely to undermine U.S. efforts to persuade other Arab leaders to give up power peacefully.
A really interesting development.