World News Today: Egypt's Mubarak taken to hospital

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Egypt's Mubarak taken to hospital

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (file photo)

Mr Mubarak has been summoned for questioning by the state prosecutor

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has been taken to hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, security sources say.

"Mubarak was admitted to the Sharm el-Sheikh International Hospital this afternoon, amid a very heavy security presence in the town," a security source told AFP news agency.

Media reports say the health minister is to give a statement on the matter.

Mr Mubarak, 82, stood down on 11 February following an 18-day popular uprising against his rule.

He had been reported to be in bad health but aides had denied this.

"There is a state of confusion inside the hospital and only patients are allowed in," Ashraf Swaylam, a news reporter for the state-run station Nile TV, said on air.

Another TV report suggested Mr Mubarak was admitted to the VIP wing and the hospital was accepting no patients except for emergency cases.

On Sunday, Mr Mubarak was summoned by the state prosecutor for questioning over alleged corruption and killings of protesters.

He has been banned from leaving the country, along with his sons and their wives, and the family's assets have been frozen.

Correspondents say he has been keeping a low profile in Sharm el-Sheikh, a Red Sea resort, after fleeing to his holiday villa there when he was overthrown.

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