Cairo Criminal Court Saturday postponed until April 19 the retrial of 16 defendants, who received prison sentences in absentia over acts of violence that occurred outside the Cabinet HQ in downtown Cairo in December 2011.

The retrial was postponed because Cairo Security Directorate could not bring the defendants from their imprisonment cells to the court hearing.

The same court in February had sentenced activist Ahmed Doma and 229 others to life in prison over committing acts of violence and setting ablaze the buildings of the Cabinet, the People's Assembly and the Shura Council along with the Scientific Academy. Another 39 defendants were sentenced to 10 years in jail.

All the defendants were ordered a fine of 17 million pounds.