Egypt's Mubarak Hospitalized Amid Growing Corruption Probe

Photo: AP

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (file photo)

Egyptian authorities say former President Hosni Mubarak has been taken to a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he was under house arrest.

The 82-year-old was expected to face legal questioning over corruption allegations and Western media reported that he was to be interviewed by investigators as early as Tuesday.

During the later years of his rule, he had been suffering health problems and had undergone gallbladder surgery and treatment in Germany. He was ousted from office amid popular protests on February 11.

On Sunday, Egypt's public prosecutor summoned Mubarak for questioning about the killing of protesters and the embezzlement of public funds, as hundreds of protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square demanded he be brought to trial.

A statement from the prosecutor said Mubarak's sons Gamal and Alaa also were summoned in the corruption probe. A later announcement Sunday said authorities detained former prime minister Ahmed Nazif for 15 days as part of a corruption investigation.

The ousted president says the allegations against him are unfounded, and that he has the right to defend his reputation and that of his family. 

Mubarak's remarks were broadcast Sunday by the Al-Arabiya news channel.  They were his first public remarks since mass protests forced his departure in February.

The former leader said he is willing to cooperate with authorities investigating his wealth, and stated that he does not have any foreign bank accounts or large properties abroad.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.