Egypt's Ex-President Detained For 15 Days

9:53am UK, Wednesday April 13, 2011

Dominic Waghorn, Middle East correspondent

Egypt’s toppled president Hosni Mubarak has been put under detention in hospital while he is investigated for corruption charges.

Mubarak is to be detained for questioning about corruption and abuse of authority

In a dramatic twenty four hours the former leader was first put under questioning by investigators.

According to state television he then suffered a heart ‘crisis’ that put him in intensive care in hospital where he was subsequently placed under arrest.

Egypt’s prosecutor general ordered the detention of Mubarak and his two sons Gamal and Alaa for fifteen days.

Hosni Mubarak's sons Alaa (L) and Gamal (R)

The sons are believed to have been sent to Cairo to be quiizzed there.

It is thought their father will remain in hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh.

Mubarak was forced out of office in Egypt’s people power revolution in February.

He refused to leave the country saying he intended to die there.

If Mubarak survives his latest health problems, he may live to regret his decision.

Egyptians in Sharm el Sheikh celebrate news of action against the Mubaraks

An increasing number of the former presidents’ men have been jailed pending investigations into alleged corruption and abuse of power.

Now the net has been widened to include their former patron.

The developments come as Egypt’s military rulers grapple with the country’s future.direction.

The army is presenting itself as caretaker of the revolution but is coming under increasing fire itself.

Egypt’s military appears to be bowing to mounting pressure to put the Mubaraks on trial.

Protests demanding their prosecution were dispersed over the weekend in Cairo, but only after protestors were shot with live ammunition. Two later died of their injuries.

A burnt out army truck in Cairo's Tahrir Square after violent weekend protests

The army has also been criticised for continuing to arrest revolutionary activists including the blogger Maikel Nabil, sentenced to three years this week for ‘insulting the military’.

A recent letter from the military reminded newspaper editors they were banned from publishing any material criticising the army.

Evidence gathered by Sky News during the revolution and immediately afterwards showed the military was involved in detaining and in some cases torturing activists.

Human Rights Watch and media reports claim they are continuing to do so.

Detaining and investigating the Mubaraks may ease pressure on the military but ultimately its standing in Egypt depends on its ability to deliver as caretaker to the revolution.

Critics say thus far Egypt’s revolution has been little more than a popular uprising transformed into a military coup.

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