Mubarak-era chiefs acquitted of camel assault on protesters

Stalwarts of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak were acquitted Wednesday of organising a notorious camel-borne assault on protesters during last year's uprising, the state MENA news agency said. The court found all 24 defendants not guilty, including the then speakers of Egypt's two houses of parliament, Fathi Surur and Safwat al-Sherif, the news agency reported. Sherif was also secretary general of Mubarak's now disbanded National Democratic Party at the time. The defendants had faced charges of "inciting murder and killing protesters" over the assault but the court found all of them not guilty. The infamous "battle of the camel," which took place on one of the most violent days of last year's revolt, was seen as pivotal in drawing more crowds to join the anti-regime rallies. On February 2, 2011, protesters gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square and Mubarak supporters charged through the crowds on horses and camels, creating mayhem that quickly degenerated into violent clashes. Mubarak was eventually ousted on February 11 after nearly three weeks of mass protests that left 846 people dead and more than 6,000 injured.