An Egyptian court has sentenced former president Hosni Mubarak to life in prison only, but not to death penalty, as was demanded by most Egyptians, after convicting him of involvement in the murder of protesters during the uprising that ousted him last year.
Also given a life term on Saturday was Mubarak's former interior minister Habib al-Adly, while six former police commanders were acquitted.
Meanwhile, corruption charges against Mubarak's sons, Alaa and Gamal, were dropped.
Mubarak, the first Arab leader to be tried by his own people since the wave of uprising began in Tunisia in late 2010, was found guilty for permitting the killing at least 800 protesters during the 18-day revolt that overthrew him on February 11, 2011.
The 84-year-old Mubarak was then ferried in a helicopter away from the police academy that was used as the courtroom in Cairo.
Hossam Baghat, an attorney from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights said that the verdict was likely to be appealed.
"This trial is far, far from over," said Baghat, adding the trial was inadequate. The crowd outside the trial immediately started shouting "False judgment!"
People also started throwing bottles at police shortly after the verdicts were read out.
The charges against Gamal and Alaa Mubarak were dropped with the judge saying "the case had lapsed" because the alleged crime took place over 10 years ago.
Alaa and Gamal, who were being tried alongside their father for corruption, were facing sentences of up to three years in prison, according to Human Rights Watch.
Judge Ahmed Refaat delivered a strongly worded statement before handing down the sentences. Mubarak, who wore sunglasses and a light brown jacket over his clothes, and his co-defendants were in an iron cage.
Refaat described Mubarak's era as "30 years of darkness'' and "a darkened nightmare'' that ended only when Egyptians rose up to demand change.
"They peacefully demanded democracy from rulers who held tight grip on power,'' the judge said.
Refaat, who was presiding over his last court session before he retires, said Mubarak and el-Adly did not act to stop the killings during 18-day days of mass protests that were met by a deadly crackdown of security forces on unarmed demonstrators.
More than 850 protesters were killed, most shot to death, in Cairo and other major cities.
The six former police commander butchers who were acquitted had ordered police to shoot protesters or use deadly force during the uprising.
Source: Agencies
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