Egypt: Court gives Hosni Mubarak custody decision

An Egyptian court has ruled that ex-President Hosni Mubarak should no longer be held over the killings of protesters during the revolution that toppled him.

However, he will remain in custody as he faces separate corruption charges.

The former leader is awaiting a retrial for conspiring to kill protesters in early 2011.

His lawyer successfully argued that he had spent the maximum time in prison under temporary detention.

Last June, Mr Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison for killings committed during the 2011 uprising that ended his rule, but in January a retrial was ordered.

There were chaotic scenes on Saturday as the judge presiding over the retrial, Mustafa Hassan Abdullah, withdrew from the case citing his "unease" in overseeing the proceedings.

The case has been referred to a different court, which is expected to appoint a new panel to hear the retrial.

About 850 people were killed in the 2011 crackdown during the 2011 uprising that ended Mr Mubarak's rule.

He and former interior minister Habib al-Adly were sentenced to life in prison for conspiring to kill protesters.

But both will be re-tried after they successfully appealed against their convictions, with Egypt's Court of Cassation citing procedural failings.

Mr Al-Adly will also be re-tried for corruption charges.