1:38 PM
Humari news
Cairo: Egypt has ordered the detention of former president Hosni Mubarak, ahead of an investigation into corruption and abuse allegations. He is said to be in an “unstable condition” in hospital with heart problems. He has been ordered to be detained for 15 days.
His sons Alaa and Gamal have also been detained amid allegations of corruption and violence, police say.
Mubarak stood down in February after a popular uprising against his rule.
Since then, tens of thousands of protesters have staged weekly Friday protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
They want the ousted president to be put on trial for the deaths of protesters and alleged abuse of power during his 30-year rule.
Official records show that 360 people were killed during the protests, but rights groups put the figure at about 800 dead and hundreds more wounded.
The Revolution Youth Coalition, an umbrella group of organisations involved in the protests that led to Mubarak’s downfall, said it welcomed the steps to bring Mubarak and his family to justice.
The coalition called off mass protest planned for Friday in Cairo, saying one of its long-standing demands had been met.
The detention of Mubarak is an exceptional turn of events for a leader in the Arab world.
But the general public is suspicious at the timing of Mubarak’s heart problems and worried that ill-health, combined with old age, could prevent him from being tried.
