Egyptian denies 'UK death plot'

News of the trial has caused disbelief in Hamza's native country

An Egyptian businessman has appeared in court in London on charges of plotting to kill four government officials.

Mamdouh Hamza pleaded not guilty to charges of trying to persuade a man to kill Egypt's Housing Minister Mohammed Suleiman and three other top officials.

Mr Hamza was allowed to remain free on bail. His trial was set for next May.

The other officials allegedly targeted in the plot were a minister of state, President Hosni Mubarak's chief of staff and the speaker of parliament.

No details of the alleged plot were given at the hearing at London's Central Criminal Court on Wednesday.

The man whom Mr Hamza allegedly tried to get to kill the four officials has only been identified by the name "Tommy".

Mr Hamza, 57, was arrested on 12 July after reportedly coming to London to attend a garden party given by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

News of the case has caused surprise and disbelief in Egypt, where Mr Hamza is a well-known, award-winning engineer and writer on Arab politics.

His firm Hamza Associates built the new Alexandria Library, as well as other major projects in Egypt and elsewhere.