Egypt's Hosni Mubarak sentenced to life in prison for role in killing of protesters

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

CAIRO (CNN) - The Cairo courtroom erupted in chaos Saturday after an Egyptian judge convicted former President Hosni Mubarak, but acquitted six of his aides, for the killing of protesters during last year's pro-democracy uprising.

 

The judge handed Mubarak, 84, a life sentence.

 

It appeared the entire gallery of men dressed in suits began shouting and stood on their chairs chanting that the decision wasn't harsh enough. Fists flew and at least one man suffered a bleeding gash to his chin.

 

"We want honesty!" they shouted. "Revolution til victory!"

 

Other Mubarak opponents headed to Tahrir Square, the center of last year's protests, shouting, "Illegitimate! Illegitimate!" They also chanted for Mubarak's execution.

 

The echoing cheers outside the police academy where the trial was held turned to angry shouts as people heard that all of Mubarak's senior advisers and his two sons were acquitted.

 

The mostly anti-Mubarak crowd threw rocks at police, smashed cars, and cursed the ruling military council.

 

Mubarak was immediately transferred to a prison in southern Cairo to serve his life sentence, a prosecutor said, a final fall from grace for a man who ruled the nation with an iron fist for nearly three decades.

 

"Mubarak arrived to Tura prison by helicopter, and will be admitted to a hospital in prison," said Adel Saeed, a spokesman for the prosecutor. A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said Mubarak refused to leave the helicopter on arrival at the prison.

 

About 840 people died and more than 6,000 others were injured in last year's 18-day uprising, according to Amnesty International.

[Jacaylbaro]

Good for him ,,,, now he knows how it felt putting innocent people in a cell for life.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

He is dying soon any ways

[Somali philosopher]

his kids were billionaires, they OWNED whole industries. media, transportation, farming. they partied in the west while average egyptians ate just onions. i am sure they loved it but now hosni is paying for it.