The North Cairo Criminal Court has postponed the testimonies of Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces Sami Anan to 24 and 25 September, judicial sources have said.
On Wednesday the court summoned Tantawi to testify in former President Hosni Mubarak's trial regarding the killing of protesters during the 25 January revolution.
But both members of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces excused themselves from testifying in the sixth session of the trial, a security source said, as they are busy taking care of the tenuous security situation in Egypt.
On Friday night protesters tore down a cement wall recently constructed around the Israeli Embassy in Cairo and took down the embassy’s flag. Violence there and at the Giza Security Directorate left three dead and 1049 injured, the Health Ministry announced on Saturday.
Meanwhile, some of the plaintiffs' lawyers were unable to access the courtroom because their names were not registered, provoking arguments with security. Families of the revolution's martyrs did not attend, but some pro-Mubarak supporters were present in the courtroom.
According to lawyer Mamdouh Ismail, Tantawi sent an official apology and asked for the questions in writing, to which he would respond in writing.
However, the judge rejected Tantawi’s request and ordered that he and Anan appear on 24 and 25 September, according to Ismail.
The next session of the trial is scheduled for Tuesday, 13 September.
