Cairo, Egypt - Egypt's Minister of Justice, Abdel-Aziz Al-Guendy, said here Sunday that ongoing trial of former members of the ousted regime of Hosni Mubarak must be thorough and take their time. Al-Guendy brushed aside accusations of delay in the trial process, clarifying that procedures must take time to avoid appeals against the court rulings. Al-Guendy also stressed that Egyptian authorities were doing their best to regain the stolen money, which was transferred abroad by members of the former regime. The perceived slow pace of the trial of the key figures of Mubarak's ousted regime, especially former Police chiefs, led to renewed tension in Egypt over the past few days, with relatives of the martyrs of the 25 January revolution clashing with Police in several districts across Cairo, the capital.

Al-Guendy made the statements after his return from Sri Lanka, where he attended meetings of the Afro-Asian Legislation committee.

The meeting featured discussions on human rights, privacy and the Palestinian cause.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, in charge of affairs in Egypt in this interim period, has said it will not interfere by any means and for any reason in judicial matters.

The Army, which protected the revolution from the first day, has guaranteed to safeguard the country's transition to a democratically elected civilian administration before the end of the year.

Pana 05/07/2011