Egypt: Court Fines Mubarak and Vodafone for Communications Blackouts

An Egyptian Court has fined former President Hosni Mubarak and his two aides $90 million for cutting Internet and cell phones communications during the Egyptian revolution earlier this year. The court ruled that Mubarak, his prime minister and interior minister were all liable for damages to the economy after they ordered a complete shutdown of telecommunications for five days from January 28 2011. It also found that three major telecoms companies -- Vodafone, Mobinil and Etisalat -- had violated the Egyptian Constitution by complying with the request without a proper warrant.