Prosecutors in Hosni Mubarak's trial demanded on Thursday that the former Egyptian president be executed by hanging for ordering the killing of hundreds of pro-democracy protesters during the revolt against him, The Washington Post reported.

Prosecutor Mostafa Khater told the court that Egyptian law authorizes the death penalty for the deliberate murder of a single victim. He then asked what the appropriate sentence is for killing hundreds.

Mubarak has pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutors laid out their closing arguments. Defense attorneys will give their final arguments as early as next week.

The New York Times reported that Mubarak, 83, and his interior minister, Habib el-Adly, both said in sworn depositions that Mubarak did not give orders to use force. Prosecutors argued that the president was responsible for the deaths because as president, he either knew or should have known about the killings by his own security forces.

Lead prosecutor Mustafa Suleiman said it's irrational and illogical to assume Mubarak didn't know protesters were being targeted.

Suleiman added, "He is the one with the interest in oppressing these protests and in killing the protesters who only went out to call for his ouster."

 

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