According to the military ruler of Egypt Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the Egyptian army never received orders to open live fire on protesters against the regime of President Hosni Mubarak. On the contrary, it was under orders to exercise restraint during last winter’s protests.

The Field Marshal was speaking about this for the press on Sunday during a tour of Faiyum Province southwest of Cairo.

Together with other officers, he had offered the same testimony to the Cairo trial of the ousted Egyptian president.

Hosni Mubarak and the Interior Minister in his administration Habib el-Adly are facing charges in connection with the death of over 800 demonstrators against Mubarak’s rule.

(TASS)