CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian judge referred 25 people including aides of ousted President Hosni Mubarak for trial Thursday for sending camels charging into a crowd of protesters during the country's popular uprising.
Mubarak loyalists mounted on camels and horses lunged into crowds of protesters on February 2, a decisive moment in the 18-day revolution against his rule.
Among those sent for trial were Fathi Sorour, former speaker in the lower house of parliament, and Safwat Sherif, former head of parliament's upper house.
"The (accused) are referred to criminal court on charges of inciting the killing of protesters in the camel event," said Mohamed al-Sabrout, head of Egypt's Judicial Investigation Commission.
The referrals come a day before thousands of Egyptians are expected to take to the streets for the biggest demonstrations in weeks against the ruling military council's handling of the country since Mubarak's overthrow.
Rights activists say the interim government is being too slow to punish officials blamed for the killing of hundreds of protesters during the uprising and say the police are still too unaccountable.
Those sent for trial Thursday also include Egyptian businessman Ibrahim Kamel, a leading member of the former ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) and a former board member of real estate firm Egyptian Resorts.
Another senior NDP figure, Cleopatra Ceramics chairman Mohamed Abou El Enein, was also sent to court.
(Writing by Sarah Mikhail; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
