During the hearing in Cairo, Mubarak was reclined on a bed inside of a cage that was built in the front of the courtroom to house all of the defendants.

Mubarak is charged with ordering the killing of anti-government protesters during the revolution that deposed him. Nearly 900 people were killed during the uprising.

Mubarak faces a possible death sentence if convicted. He is also charged with corruption, abuse of power and squandering public wealth.

Crowds gathered outside the building and watched the proceedings on a large screen. Hundreds of police were deployed outside, where at one point supporters and opponents of Mr. Mubarak threw stones at one another.

Two of Mubarak's sons, Alaa and Gamal, also went on trial Wednesday, along with his former interior minister Habib al-Adly, six police commanders, and prominent businessman Hussein Salem who is being tried in absentia.

Mubarak has been living under house arrest at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh with his family.

Egypt's judiciary had moved the location of the trial to the Cairo Police Academy due to security issues.