Hosni Mubarak allies cleared of corruption charges Published duration 19 December 2013

image caption Alaa (R) and Gamal (L) Mubarak, seen here with their father, are also facing separate allegations

An Egyptian court has acquitted the two sons of former President Hosni Mubarak, and his last prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, of charges of embezzlement.

Mr Shafiq, who has been living in the United Arab Emirates since losing the presidential election to Mohammed Morsi in 2012, was tried in absentia.

Gamal and Alaa Mubarak have been involved in a series of trials since their father's fall from power.

All three men are still facing other corruption charges.

Ten other defendants were also cleared in Thursday's verdicts in Cairo.

Pilots' land

The case examined whether Mr Shafiq had enabled the Mubarak sons - both of whom were prominent businessmen - to buy land belonging to the Egyptian pilots' association at a cheaper price than the market rate.

Egypt's Al Ahram reports that the verdict in the second corruption case against the former prime minister will be announced later on Thursday.

image caption Ahmed Shafiq was tried in absentia

Hosni Mubarak is being held under house arrest following his release from detention in August.

His retrial on charges of complicity in the killing of demonstrators in 2011 is under way, after his conviction in June 2012 was overturned on appeal in January 2013.

The former president is also charged in a further three corruption cases.