A strict media blockade was imposed before Field Marshal Tantawi's appearance in Mr Mubarak's trial on Sep 24. His testimony was seen as potentially a crucial element in the trial with the grievous charge against the former president is that he ordered troops to fire on protesters. Mr Mubarak could face the death penalty if found guilty. Now in a speech in the official ceremony Mr Tantawi has said nobody ever asked the army to open fire.

在9月24日穆罕默德·坦塔维元帅出席穆巴拉克审判庭之前，媒体报道被严格封锁。在对前总统下令军队对抗议者开枪的指控上，坦塔维元帅的证词在法庭上至关重要。如果确认有罪，穆巴拉克将面临死刑。在一次官方演讲上，坦塔维表示，没有人曾命令军队开火。

The authorities in northern Nigeria said at least 19 people have died in violence in a village in Zamfara State. Eyewitnesses said about 150 people raided the village. Jonah Fisher reports from Lagos.

北尼日利亚当局声称，在扎姆法拉州发生的暴力事件中，至少19人死亡。目击者声称大约150人袭击了村庄，Jonah Fisher在拉各斯为您报道。

As people emerged from their homes they were either hacked to death or shot. One witness who the BBC spoke to in hospital said his house was targeted first and that he saw both his grand-daughter and his daughter-in-law killed. Zamfara State police commissioner said it was his belief that the attackers were a group of armed robbers seeking revenge. They had apparently being targeted by vigilantes from Lingyado a month ago. Both soldiers and police have now been dispatched to the area in an effort to prevent further reprisals.