Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's defense lawyers on Tuesday began their closing arguments in the landmark case in which he and ex-interior minister Habib Al-Adly and six former senior ministry officials are charged. Mubarak, 83, his sons - Alaa and Gamal - and fugitive businessman Hussein Salem also face charges of corruption and of wasting public funds. They are accused of selling Egyptian gas exports to Israel at prices lower than the market value. The presiding judge, Ahmed Rifaat, has given defence lawyers representing Mubarak and his sons until January 22 to finish their arguments. Lawyers of the other defendants have until February 16 to finish their arguments, after which the judge is expected to set a date for the verdict, according to a report of the German Press Agency "DPA". Prosecution and plaintiff lawyers, representing the families of those killed or injured during the 2011 uprising, demanded the death penalty for all the accused in the case.
