US urges fair, transparent trial for Mubarak

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The US State Department has urged Egyptian authorities to hold a fair and transparent trial against former president Hosni Mubarak.

"Our concern would be that we generally would support due process and a fair and transparent trial. But beyond that, this is really something for the Egyptian people," Xinhua quoted State Department spokesman Mark Toner as saying.

He added that the US was watching the trial closely.

Mubarak's trial began on Wednesday in Cairo, during which the former president denied all charges against him.

Mubarak, 83, was forced to step down in February after 18 days of protests. A military council took over power and promised to hold parliamentary and presidential elections.