Cairo, Egypt - The Cairo appeal court Tuesday postponed ruling on a request by lawyers to replace the presiding judge in the trial of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak until 22 October.

According to Egyptian media reports, the decision was taken in order to give the court time to view earlier court sessions featuring Mubarak that had been aired on state television.

Last week, civil-claims lawyers representing the families of protesters killed and injured during Egypt’s revolution asked the court to replace presiding judge, Ahmed Refaat, due to an alleged bias towards Mubarak and his alleged maltreatment of lawyers for the prosecution.

The move came immediately after the testimony behind closed doors of the head of Egypt's interim ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, on Saturday.

Following the lawyers’ motion for recusal, Refaat adjourned trial proceedings till 30 October.

The Egyptian penal code states that if the presiding judge in a case is replaced, the trial must begin again from scratch.

Mubarak is accused along with his interior minister and six former top police officials of complicity in the killing of about 850 revolution protesters.

Mubarak's two sons, Alaa and Gamal, are co-defendants in the trial, which will also judge them on corruption charges along with their father and another defendant, Hussein Salem, who has fled to Spain.

Pana 28/09/2011