without an attack it gets more dangerous. >> brad thor, it's compelling talking to you. and the books are a great read. >> thanks. >> i recommend this one. it's another storming, unthinkable thriller of mayhem and complexity. thanks for coming in. >> thanks, piers. >> take care. that's it for us tonight. hi, i'm zain verjee at cnn in london. the trial of the former egyptian president, hosni mubarak is getting under way in cairo. the 83-year-old mubarak is

attending the proceeding while locked inside a courtroom cage. the former president is accused of ordering the killing of hundreds of anti-government protesters during mass demonstrations earlier this year. you're looking at live pictures of hosni mubarak right now. this is an incredible moment. the idea of a hosni mubarak trial, this really marks a new moment in arab history, seeing him there standing trial for murder and corruption charges and being held in a cage. mohammed jom joon joins us right now. what will be the reaction in eye row. >> reporter: shock and utter disbelief for the people we're speaking with. they just can't believe that former president mubarak is actually in that krool, he's there with his two sons. we've seen the leader on state tv. he came in on a stretcher with

an id, apparently with an oxygen mask on as well. we can't understand how historic this is. it's a moment that most egyptians we spoke with the last few days just didn't believe would be possible. they thought up until a last second it would be postponed whether because of ramadan or his health. yes, zain. >> the court is starting its proceedings. let's take a moment and listen. >> translator: as the responsibility of the presiding judge and whoever breaks the rules, it is the right of the presiding judge to expel him from the courtroom. and if he continues, it's the right of the presiding judge to order him to be put in jail for 24 hours because of breaking the rules of the session. gentlem

gentlemen, be quiet. the great people of egypt, owners of great civilization in this trial, quiet, listening, being fully aware so that the courtroom can do its job according to its best abilities and in accordance wour conscience. all of us, we will one day meet our god with safe hearts. that's all what we want, all what we hope for and may god help us. lawyers, the defendant's lawy s lawyers, gentlemen, if there are

specific demands that can be put to the court should be in writing and it's part and parcel of the proceedings of the session. so that we'll be able, we, the judges, to consider your demands and to the deliberate and give its opinion in accordance with justice and truth. everyone should stay in his place. no one should leave his place so he will be able with god's help to perform our duties, our task. we start.

>> this marks a new moment in arab history, a remarkable trial in the modern arab world. the former president of egypt, hosni mubarak lying down in a white prisoner uniform with an oxygen mask in a cage in a court with his sons, standing trial for corruption and murder charges in relation to ordering the killing of anti-government protesters. hosni mubarak and his sons have denied any wrongdoing. this is an incredible moment for egypt and the entire arab world, this trial being watched with a sense of awe, a sense of anticipation. something like this happening was once unthinkable. hosni mubarak, a former war

hero, a strong man who ruled with an iron fist who is now as we're watching behind iron bars. let's continue to listen to this. i ammo hamid ramsey ashid. can you note down that all the defendants in this case are present. the lawyers representing the defendants.

who is here representing the defendant? you are here. we note down that the lawyers representing the defendants are here. previous court sessions, in previous sessions your names have been noted down there, also the names of those representing the families and relatives of the victims. are there any new issues? yes, yes. please quietly, eye etly, quietly. we are now asking are there any new names regarding the lawyers. >> translator: judge, we don't know who was actually noted down as president in previous

sections or not, so i hope that the secretary would tell us the names -- read out the names of the lawyers. >> translator: yes. >> translator: excuse me. regarding the second defendant, we have not any demands in the first court session because we have not been given a chance to. >> translator: the previous sessions were just to prove that the defendants and their representatives, their lawyers have attended. i'm asking if there are any new issues, those who haven't attended. let me finish first. let me finish first. let me finish first. are there regarding the lawyers, any new issues. if there are new lawyers who didn't attend before, who are they that didn't attend previous sessions. >> translator: if you'll just read out the names, we'll be

able to taken down, whose name was taken down and who was not. >> translator: the session that took place on tuesday, on the 26th of april, mr. he is representing the victims of the -- the family victims ali mohammed as dean.

[ reading names ] >> yes, i did attend.

representing the fourth defendant. [ reading names ] >> translator: we're listening to you so that those of you who weren't registered can register their presence now. yes, write down the names, write down the names. sit down, sit down. those representing the families, quietly, quietly, quietly, write down a list of your names. gentlemen, write down a list of

your names. to save times -- gentlemen, please, please write down a list of your names. we'll add it to the record of the session and it becomes an inseparable part of that record. the gentleman over there, no one should stand there behind the court bench. yes, please, gentlemen, write down -- please, gentlemen, you'll write down a list that will be added to the record of the proceedings.

and those who want to ledge center his name later, we don't have anything against it, please sit down, write down your names, and those who can't do that today, we can still add his name later. we have nothing against that. write down your names. write down your names. please sit down. please sit down. write down your names. as i said, please, you can write down your name and submit them to the court. we want relatives of the victims to be allowed into the

courtroom. gentlemen, please sit down, add your names. lawyers representing the defendants. who is here representing the first defendant? the court has asked the defendants representing the victims to submit to the courtroom a list of all their names. and that list should be added to the record or the minutes of the session and is an inseparable part of the record of the session.

provided, regarding to the lawyers, those who could not attend this session, the court has no objection to accepting their presence and to prove that at a later date. only four people from the relatives of the victims have been allowed into the courtroom, only four. excuse me. excuse me. sit down. sit down so we can continue with the proceeding. the first defendant, who is representing him?

the names, the names. mr. fareed adeep. who else is representing the first defendant? what's his name? ba tao which, also with the first defendant. mohammed tafa representing the first and fifth defendant. who else is with the first defendant, the first defendant? we are with the second. who is the with second. we're watching what i guess you would call the administration part of this trial taking place right now. this is the pretrial motions happening where they're clarifying who is part of the

defense team with the various defendants that are standing trial right now in cairo. there are six assistants to the former interior ministry that are also part of the defendants, i should say. they are in the cages we see on the right. on the left we see the cage that is holding the former president of egypt, hosni mubarak alongside his two sons, gamal and alaa mubarak who are standing trial for corruption charges. mr. mubarak is charged with conspiring to kill unarmed protesters during the revolution in cairo. he's accused of getting his sharm el sheikh home from a land deal. these are very dramatic scenes we are seeing right now on your television screen. even within egypt's state-run newspaper, they're describing this as a trial of the century

where it's very unusual to see a former leader, someone who has ruled egypt with an iron fist, who also has been seen, as zain was describing, as a war hero, to be seen right now in a cage at a police academy which is being used as a courthouse for this purpose. because of his health, because of his described ill health, he is now lying on a stretcher, but is wearing prison garb. >> mohammed jamjoom joins us now. as we were saying, hosni mubarak inside a cage, wearing a white prison uniform on a stretcher, he has an oxygen mask. these are unbelievable extraordinary scenes. no one would have guessed that we would see such a powerful man who ruled with an iron fist behind these iron bars. what is to be the likely effect

of an image like this across egypt? >> reporter: zain, it's ut der disbelief, the fact that we're seeing hosni mubarak who has ruled for 30 years with an iron fist, not just in a courtroom, wearing a prison uniform, this is a shock to many egyptians who didn't believe this day would come, who believed that he would be granted some sort of clemency or amnesty. as far as on the streets of cairo right now, we're not seeing a lot of activity. there have been clashes that were reported that we saw outside this building, the police academy, between pro-and anti-mubarak factions. downtown cairo is calm, but tense. there's a very heavy security presence. the security apparatus here does

not want spontaneous gatherings. they're afraid it might turn violent. we're trying to see what the reaction would be throughout the country and throughout the capital, throughout egypt as far as how people will react to this trial. right now the people we're speaking with seem to be expressing shock. many people have said they're happy the day has finally come. activists are suggesting that. as far as the reaction later in the day, we'll keep monitoring to see what will happen. people glued to their sets right now. riveted by this drama going on in the courtroom, a moment many egyptians believed never would come. >> mohammed, how much pressure was there on the military to put their former commander on trial? >> reporter: an immense amount of pressure, zain, an extraordinary amount of pressure. the supreme military council that is ruling the interim government here has faced so much pressure by the protesters here, by the members of the

revolution before this trial took place. a lot of people believed that these members of the military at the end might not allow it to happen because mubarak was a former military man, a decorated war hero. yet it did. it remains to be seen how the military would react. we don't have any statements from them today. the fact that is carrying on right now is very symbolic and really shows how much pressure this uprising has put on this government, that the protesters that continue to come out are putting on the government here, on the supreme military council to make sure this former leader of egypt is tried, his two sons are tried and the members of his former regime are tried. >> as the focus of this trial son the former strong man, in a white prisoner uniform, laying down in a cage, on a stretcher. who men standing right next to him which seem to be his two sons, gamal and alaa.

they were also very powerful in eej ji egypt and also very feared, right? >> reporter: absolutely. for many years, his son gamal was seen to be the heir apparent, seemed to be somebody that would follow in his food steps, somebody who was very corrupt. not just extraordinary that hosni mubarak is in the cage and on trial, but his sons, his relatives are also on trial, that they have been charged. it's a moment that's hard to believe for a lot of people in this part of the world that just aren't used to seeing leaders and their family members who have gotten away with so much over the years facing justice and the possibility of being brought to justice and possibly being sentenced, zain. >> why did hosni mubarak and his family not just take a deal that was offered by many arab leaders

to just leave egypt and not end up with a situation like what we're watching right now? >> reporter: zain, there's still a lot of speculation as to why that happened, as to why hosni mubarak didn't step down sooner. many people suggested his son gamal wanted him to stay here at any and all costs. some people blame him for what's going on here today with the mubarak family. it still remains to be seen exactly why that is. but it is really shocking because nobody, and especially those around mubarak really believed it would come down to this. in the months since he stepped down and since he was forced to leave office, even though he was facing these charges. nobody thought, or many people didn't think they would actually get to this stage and see him in that white prisoner's uniform with his sons facing these

charges in such a dramatic fashion in that courtroom in egypt. >> mohammed jamjoom reporting. thank you very much. we are watching these remarkable scenes unfolding in cairo, being burned into the minds of ordinary egyptians and will go down forever in the history books in the modern arab region. >> you would believe that drama right now isn't even the real drama that will be setting in as soon as the trial actually begins. what we're seeing is the pretrial administration motions taking place. there was the clairol case of who was defending whom, but also the presence of those representing the families of the victims who were killed during the protests on tahrir square back in february, and that is why we are seeing mubarak on trial right now. he is also being charged with the murder and killing or ordering the killing of some 840 protesters who died during those demonstrations that took place in the egypt capital.

again, as we're seeing, once these administration -- i guess the paperwork is done, then the actual trial will get under way. it's always -- it's fascinating to watch that the mubarak dynasty, we're seeing two sons who were the heir apparents. gamal was the heir apparent who seemed to take over from his father also standing trial alongside his trial who is lying on a stretcher. very dramatic scenes that we probably wouldn't have imagined. it would be interesting to see what other leaders within the arab world are making of this. let's just listen in on this trial. >> translator: we're summoned today, but now they're standing outside the courtroom and they've come from all different parts of cairo. would you please, in the next session, they should be allowed in the courtroom and to establish a certain procedure? >> translator: okay, fine.

we'll consider that. sit down. sit down. please sit down so we can start. please sit down so we can start. sit down. sit down. gentlemen who are representing the victims should sit down. please sit down. >> translator: i'm the lawyer representing the victims. i attended the first session. i only want to emphasize one thing. >> translator: first, please, sir, sit down. sit down so we can start the trial quietly. sit down. sit down. this is a procedural matter, sir. regarding the defendant, all those attending, your requests as i've said before should be written so we'll be able to

consider them. should be written and submitted to the courtroom. let's start with the first defendant, habim. come forward so i can see you. come forward. where is your mic, your mic so we can hear you. >> translator: sir, i would like for permission to submit a request which is returning the case to the court which had ordered this particular case to be joined together with the case being considered by this

courtroom because that decision to join was wrong, issued from a court who the judges were being questioned. so they cannot -- to take any legal order, any legal decision, the decision to join the two case cas cases was justified on the basis on the 25th of july that there is a link, a link that cannot be broken between the two cases. the link is a legal concept and definiti definition. the appeals court has concluded that assessing the link is an

objective issue. and the court which issued that decision had no right to issue any court, any decision regarding this particular case because their involvement was in question. you've written this? yes, i've written this. >> translator: can you write down your request and submit them? >> translator: i've written them. >> translator: submit them, submit them. regardless, this particular submission, submit your request, whatever your request. >> translator: i only have this request. >> translator: any other request? >> translator: my colleagues have other requests. this is my only requests. i have it written here. >> translator: you, do you have

any oh requests? >> translator: we are a team, no. personally we are a team. i have no other requests. >> translator: write down his name. he requested that the case be referred back to the court that had referred it to this court and he submitted a petition explaining the justification for his request. also regarding the first defendant, sir, also regarding the first defendant. who else is representing? yes, regarding the first defendant, the first defendant.

>> translator: i support the request by my colleague, fareed adib and i urge the court, if it's going to take a decision first, then we have other formal requests and objective requests. the former requests and the objective requests or substantive requests we'll submit once the court has taken a decision regarding our first petition which the decision to join the two cases is illegal. >> translator: i represent the first defendant and the fifth defendant. one word, briefly, a brief word. fir first, the fact that the trial should be public and be broadcast to all people is also the request of the first and the fifth defendant. yes, what do you want?

what are your requests? >> translator: that has to do with my request. the second thing, something which you have mentioned -- the request should be written. we will do that. but we will also expose or make our request public. >> as we continue to watch these pretrial motions being taken care of right now, this administrative roles being taken care of right now at this courthouse, we want to go to abu dhabi to monitor not only this trial taking place right now, but of course the regional reaction so far. one would assume that people within the region, not just the people, but the leaders in the region are watching this even though they may not have publicly reacted so far. reema? >> reporter: it's history in the making, this image that we see on arab media, aljazeera and el

arabiya, the two channels in the region, the movers and shakers here. these images of the egyptian president who was a hero in ooj into behind bars in a courtroom is a very significant image. it's ramadan, as you know, people are fasting. some of them are sleeping during the day to avoid long hours of fasting. however, people have been waiting for this moment. we've been talking to the people in the region, and some of them were skeptic that this would even happen and it has happened. this moment is as important as the moment that we saw saddam hussein being tried in front of a courtroom. however, the importance of this trial is it's a trial by the

people of egypt, no foreign interference and no one from outside egypt is overseeing this trial. >> and while it is by the people of egypt, rima, how much faith do the people of egypt have in that mr. mubarak would actually get a fair trial? >> reporter: well, people don't trust the judicial system in the arab world in general, not only in egypt but also across the arab world. they don't trust the political system. they accuse the arab regimes of manipulating elections, the economy, everything else in the political system of the country. so there are doubts. there are has accusations that some arab countries will interfere with the military and stop this trial or make it a quick trial to avoid embarrassment and humiliation. who is watching today?

definitely the people of the region and for sure, the leaders of the region. like hosni mubarak who stayed three decades ruling egypt, also leaders across the world except for lebanon, turkey and israel, across the middle east, all the rest of the arab leaders have been sitting in power for years and decades, and their people also question their rule, their legitimacy sometimes and accuse them of corruption of also oppressing protesters. here we're talking specifically syria and libya. it is indeed the trial of the the century for the arab world. >> the interesting thing. we're seeing reaction now within israel as well as quoted within the arab news network that you have been monitoring as well, el

arabiya, he said i respected president mubarak. he held peace between israel and egypt for over 30 years. that's a great achievement. i think it should not be forgotten. he goes on to say, i'm quoting, what happens in egypt depends of course on the will of the egyptian people. but egypt, i see the current government, the transition government is committed to peace. they said openly and in practice this is also taking place. that's the former -- the current israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu being quoted by el arabiya. going back again to the significance of all of this, there was a question, many had been asking could this situation have been avoided, could mubarak have actually avoided being where he is right now? >> reporter: he could have indeed. at the end of the day mubarak

was given many offers to leave before his resignation or even after his resignation over the past month. he is the leader who chose to stay in egypt. he said on the record, i want to die in egypt. some people question why mubarak did this, including some arab leaders who think a trial like this will jeopardize their legitimacy. definitely they would have rather seen hosni mubarak living somewhere in saudi arabia or jordan or even in the uae here, rather than being here behind the bars as we see on arab networks. it's a trial not only for the egyptian leader. it's a significant symbolic trial for many arab leaders that have ruled for decades without the rule of law, checks and balances and a solid political system to ensure fair elections and democracy. mubarak could have accepted offers from saudi arabia.

the major ally for the egyptian president. he could have accepted offers from the uae and from jordan and surely he wouldn't have taken an offer from israel although mubarak was a major part of the peace with the israelis. however, the egyptians, many of them remain hostile to israel. >> as we continue to see the scenes right now in this courtroom, this is just the administrative part of the session, the trial. they are just making sure, trying to clarify who is defending whom, also to make sure that the representatives of those families of the victims who were killed in the protests are also present right now. just going back again to the protests that had taken place and what has been described as the arab spring, rima, what we're seeing right now in the courthouse, one would wonder does this fuel more of this desire for change within the

region or if -- because if the leaders are watching this and there is a reluctance to actually step down, because if this is what they have to deal with if they do indeed step down, there's going to be more strife and conflict within the region. >> reporter: well, let's look at things this way. at the end of the day, it's a success story for the protesters in egypt to be able to bring down hosni mubarak, a president who has been ruling egypt for three decades, and then make him stand in trial behind those bars and with those images we see on the camera. this is unprecedented in the modern history of the region. however, this image may push arab regimes for a harsher approach towards any descent in their countries. maybe the president in syria and

in libya are watching these images closely. what we need to know in the coming days, how will they learn with descent? will they learn from this lesson that their people can actually bring them down or will they be harsher in dealing with these protests. the stories coming from syria and libya are not promising. every day we hear of more casualties, more blood being shed. so the reactions to this trial is quite significant. most importantly, we only heard saudi arabia giving a comment on this saying we're not interfering in egyptian affairs and we are not pressuring anyone towards this trial, to stop it or even go ahead with it. >> i'm curious to know, how much credence does the rest of the region place on this military rule that is taking place right now in this transition government, the supreme military -- the supreme military council that is currently

governing egypt. >> reporter: it's the same council that is made of members, officers and high-ranking officers that were partners with president hosni mubarak. it is quite known in the region through analysis we read on a daily basis in the arab world over the past years, in the last years egypt was ruled by the army practically, rather than mubarak himself. so the system here is trusted to some extent. the example of egypt shows that in this arab spring, if leaders leave, there is a kind of a political cushion where the army takes over. and probably the example today gives a good example of when leaders leave, someone else will take control which is not what

we see in tunis which is the same system, but rather libya and syria. the question nowadays in syria, who is going to take over? so the army is trusted to some extent across the region. it's a strong army. however, people view this system as being mubarak's system. nothing changed. no elections took place. it's the same judicial system and political key positions were never changed. >> interesting, rima, thank you very much. zain, when you watch these images of mubarak's sons, gamal and alaa there behind bars in this cage, wearing the prison garb, you can't help but think how far they've fallen. >> absolutely. nobody imagined we would be watching these scenes today. let's take a moment again and listen to the proceedings in the courtroom as they stand in the cage and listen to what the judge has to say.

>> translator: i need enough time to consider the case number 3,7 -- 3,642 number 11. case 3,642, 2011. tran tran you want to hear the witnesses and enough time. how long time do you want? tell me, how long time do you want? according to what i heard from the colleagues, there are about

4,000 documents, whatever. what is adequate time? one month, for example? could you write down? the lawyer representing second defendant wanted enough time of one month to consider the documents to the court case 3,642, 2011, criminal cos rah neal specifying that he would need a period of one month.

drn. >> translator: it is speculated that the lawyers representing the defense are trying to -- that it is not the lawyers representing defendants to blame for the delays. but the previous proceedings were postponed several times, in one case because of lack of order. then we are not the obstacle. we are not the obstacle. therefore, one week, yes, one week personally i feel is enough. >> translator: yes, what do you want, sir?

>> translator: for me, it's enough for me, one week. as regarding the argument referring the previous case to this one -- >> you're watching the fascinating trial that is starting of the former egyptian leader hosni mubarak standing trial for corruption and the murder of about 840 people, pro-democracy campaigners in the uprising that kicked him out of power. these are scenes live from a courtroom in cairo. this is a special courtroom set up at the police academy that actually once bore loss any mubarak's name. for so many egyptians, monita, this day is so emotional. many think this trial has gone too far. some people think it's not gone far enough. people see this, too, as retribution for about 30 years of stifling freedoms, torturing opponents of hosni mubarak. there are people who saw hosni

mubarak's regime as a real symbol of stability. they don't like this is happening. we're looking at live pictures of the defendants in a mesh cage here. this is sort of on the left-hand side of the courtroom. we understand that their family members are seated relatively closely to them. if you look, there is actually a fence that runs through the courtroom that divides the families of the victims from the defendants themselves because they don't want any shoes or rocks or anything thrown at the defendants. >> we understand this is standard procedure for any criminal case within an egyptian court, for the defendants to be placed in a cage like that, in a fenced-in area. it's also for their own safety and security. we want to see what's happening outside of this police academy, of this courthouse. we go to cnn's mohammed jamjoom who is in cairo. mohammed, i'm curious to know, this is being described by el

arabiya, by some networks as trial of the century. >> reporter: that's what is the prevailing mood. this is the trial of the century in egypt. it's extraordinary that this moment has arrived. there has been so many doubts over the last few days they would actually get to this point where hosni mubarak, his two sons and other former members of his regime are actually on trial, wearing the white jumpsuits in that cage, in that courtroom. we're here outside of the police academy which is the venue that is housing that courtroom. there's about a thousand people here. earlier in the day they got into scuffles, you ladd pro-mubarak factions, anti-mubarak factions. at one point gunfire was heard. a large contingent of security forces, armored personnel carriers, anti-riot police trying to make sure they can maintain calm, because there are

so many passions anti this trial, what it represents, how symbolic and historic it is for egypt and the fact that it represents, as you were saying, retributions for crimes that people think hosni mubarak committed over the course of his 30-year rule and during the uprising going on here. again, a very historic day, a very historic moment, and many people shocked that it's actually happening and completely riveted to the drama going on in the courtroom. there's a big screen behind me. the people here gathered are watching that screen intently, trying to see the latest developments in the trial so farp. monita? >> while all eyes are indeed on the former egyptian president and his two sons who are there in that fenced-in cage within that courtroom, we also should mention and we should not forget that the families of the victims who have been killed within the protests back in february are also in attendance.

>> reporter: that's right, monita. there were dramatic moments earlier in the court. pretrial proceedings going on, at one point intensity from the courtroom because members of those families that are there representing victims, representing who many call martyrs of the revolution, peaceful protesters killed during the uprising, they were upset, they didn't feel they were being represented in this case, that their names weren't written down in the court docket. their lawyers were objecting with the judge, not quite clear just yet if that has been resolved. there's been a lot of discussion in that courtroom today as to how exactly things will proceed. there have been lawyers for the defendants that have been getting into arguments with the judge as to how their specific cases should be handled. but we must not forget, as you mentioned, the families of the victims of this revolution, very symbolic that they're here, that

they're participating. and they particularly, of all the groups represented want to make sure that the people on trial here today, that the trial does go forward, that there is retribution for the crimes they feel have been committed against their loved ones. monita? >> lives have been lost, mohammed, lives changed as a result of the protests taking place in this trial. the former leader to stand trial of murder o and corruption. let's talk about life in egypt. have things changed a lot? >> reporter: you know, it's interesting. i got back into egypt yesterday. at that point there were still protesters in tahrir square, the epicenter of the uprising, the revolution. at that point there were still tents, hundreds of people out with all their demands. they had their signs and their tents. they were staging a continued

sit-in. as of now, there's nobody that remains in tahrir square except for security forces that want to make sure that round-about doesn't get taken over by protesters. a couple days ago, tahrir square was cleared. that was very symbolic. they were trying to shut it down before ramadan kicked in. there's a concern right now because of this trial and because there are so many passions around this trial and so many people invested in the outcome, it could lead to more spontaneous protests, more possible violence in the city of cairo and possibly throughout the country. a lot of precautions being taken by the security forces to make sure people can't come out and can't demonstrate. whether that will change we don't know. the mood on the streets in cairo is quite tense. there is an increased skrurt presence, not just here, but in other parts of the city as well. people trying to make sure violence doesn't occur. even at the site of this venue, outside of this venue, pro and

anti-mubarak factions got into clashes. everybody quite riveted to what's happening inside the courtroom. whether this will move into the streets and people will be expressing themselves in the streets later in the day, we just don't know at this point. we'll be monitoring for you, monita. >> a lot of mistrust, people don't have a lot of faith in the judicial system, those who are actually questioned those running the show right now inside that courtroom. do we know what this court and how this court is actually made up? >> reporter: there has been a lot of mistrust expressed by the egyptians here about this case. many people didn't believe they would actually make it to this moment. they thought former president mubarak would be given some kind of clemency or amnesty or perhaps for health reasons not to have make it inside the court. the fact that he's made it there is being seen by activists and

other observers as a real concerted effort on the part of the supreme military council and officials in the court to try to reassure the egyptian people that justice is being done and will be carried out. still, having said that, on the streets here, a lot of skepticism as to how it will continue. there have been so many rumors, so much speculation as to what would happen. there was so much opinion thatment president mubarak wouldn't make it inside the courtroom, this day would never come. the fact that he's there, right now seems to be a reassuring -- >> we seem to have lost contact there with mohammed jamjoom. we want to take you back inside this courtroom and get an update of how things stand and where things are at right now. >> translator: if this court case when it was referred to

this court, to consider them as one case starting from the former president to the general, or is it going to be considered as two separate cases? does the linkage or the joining mean linking, there is something left to the judges here to deci decide. >> translator: what do you want? >> translator: i want to consider the investigation related to the charges against the former president. >> translator: we don't want commentariries. who do you represent? >> translator: i-report the third defendant. >> translator: what do you want? straight to the point, please. yes, go ahead.

the third defendant. the third defendant. in the name of ala, the masterful, the compassionate and peace be upon the prophet mohammed, i represent the third defendant. i insist on the requests that have been submitted to the court in writing and have asked the court enough time to consider the details of the charges that have been added to the previous court case, a time to be determined by the judge. >> translator: the fourth

defendant, who represents the fourth defendant? >> translator: in the name of ala, the merciful, compassionate, gentlemen, in line with fair trial proceedings or legal guarantees, we join earlier requests put forward -- >> translator: all right. can you just add this to the minutes? >> translator: we urge that the decision to link the two cases is illegal. >> translator: what else, what else, sir?

>> translator: regarding the requests of the fourth defendant, he want to consider c, a postponement so he can consider the details of the court case 3,463 2011. we'll also submit a request, but i urge you, urge the prosecutor's office to provide copies. >> translator: is this written? >> translator: no, no. this is a different petition. >> translator: what are your requests? >> translator: i have seven requests regarding defendant number seven. >> translator: do you have them written down? can you please pass them on to me? pass them on to me.

>> translator: there are shortages in the investigation, serious shortages in the investigation. it's up to the judge to ask for complimentary investigation. >> translator: have you written your requests down? >> translator: i would like to have the minutes of the prime minister's meeting on the 21st of