Egyptian editor trial to begin

By Heba Saleh
BBC News, Cairo

Mr Issa is well known for his criticism of President Mubarak

One of Egypt's most controversial newspaper editors is going on trial for publishing rumours about the state of President Hosni Mubarak's health.

Al-Dustour editor Ibrahim Issa faces up to three years in jail if convicted if undermining national security.

His trial, along with prison sentences passed this month against 11 other journalists, has provoked the anger of the independent and opposition press.

The Egyptian media accuses the authorities of trying to muzzle it.

Public outcry

This is going to be a very high profile trial.

Mr Issa has long been a thorn in the side of the Egyptian authorities.

His newspaper is an implacable opponent of the government here.

Mr Issa is also a scathing and irreverent critic of the president and of what many here consider to be plans for Mr Mubarak's son to succeed him.

The prosecution has denied news last week that Mr Issa was going to be tried before an emergency court with no right of appeal, but his lawyers insist that was the original plan.

They say the public outcry in Egypt and abroad caused the government to back down.