UN: We respect the independence of the Egyptian judiciary

Estefan Dogrk, the spokesman for the UN secretary-general, yesterday said that he recognises the “sensitivity” of the case relating to ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for the Egyptian people, adding that he respects the independence of the Egyptian judiciary, Anadolu Agency reported.

Speaking to journalists in New York, Dogrk said that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was informed of Mubarak’s acquittal and replied that “while respecting the independence of their judiciary, the secretary-general notes the sensitivity of this particular case to the Egyptian society. And also to keep and to underscore the issue of the importance of the issue of accountability.”

Replying to a question about the killing of demonstrators on Saturday, Dogrk said: “It is very important that people have the right to demonstrate peacefully and that the security forces in any setting respect that right and protect the demonstrators who are demonstrating peacefully.”

On Saturday, An Egyptian court dismissed murder charges brought against deposed President Hosni Mubarak in connection to the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising.

Mubarak, along with his sons Alaa and Gamal, was also cleared of corruption in case relating to gas exports to Israel.

Former interior minister Habib Al-Adly and six of his aides were also acquitted on charges of ordering the killing of Egyptian demonstrators.