Egypt's former president Mubarak says he did nothing wrong, after murder charges dropped

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak listens next to his son Gamal (left) inside a dock during his trial at the police academy on the outskirts of Cairo on Nov 29, 2014. Mubarak said Saturday he "did nothing wrong", after a court dismissed a murde
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak listens next to his son Gamal (left) inside a dock during his trial at the police academy on the outskirts of Cairo on Nov 29, 2014. Mubarak said Saturday he "did nothing wrong", after a court dismissed a murder charge against him over a deadly crackdown on protesters in 2011.

CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt's ousted president Hosni Mubarak said Saturday he "did nothing wrong", after a court dismissed a murder charge against him over a deadly crackdown on protesters in 2011.

"I did nothing wrong at all," he said in a telephone interview with the private Sada El Balad broadcaster from the military hospital where he is serving a three-year sentence for corruption.

The court also dismissed separate corruption charges against the former autocrat, in a retrial held after an initial life sentence was overturned on a technicality.

"When I heard the first verdict I laughed. I said: 'Ha'!'" Mubarak said of the 2012 sentencing. He praised his 30-year rule, which was marred by police abuses and corruption, especially the decade before his overthrow.

Apparently referring to economic growth, he said: "The last 10 years showed more results than the 20 years before, including telephones and so on, and then they turned against us."

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