By IANS,
Cairo : Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak’s health is not stable, but he is not dying, a source close to the leader has said.
The 82-year-old Mubarak suffered two heart attacks in the past two days after prosecutors began questioning him over financial and political corruption charges and allegations of instigating violence against demonstrators during the protests against his 30-year-long rule.
The former president was admitted to a hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh Wednesday after a second minor heart attack and is under close medical supervision. “But he is not dying,” state daily Al-Ahram cited the source as saying.
Al-Ahram cited another source as saying that Mubarak was on the third floor of the hospital, which also has an intensive care unit.
The heart attack was reportedly triggered by his questioning by prosecutors who are probing allegations of corruption against Mubarak.
Mubarak stepped down Feb 11 after 18 days of protests and relocated to the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Should Mubarak die, “and this is not something we are expecting in view of the development of his current health situation”, he would not be given a military funeral, Al-Ahram quoted an official source as saying.
He will turn 83 in May and his overall health profile is reportedly frail. He has had heart problems in recent years and has been subject to treatment related to hearing loss.
In 2010, it was announced that he would undergo gall bladder surgery, amid speculation he had cancer.
Egypt’s former ruler is said to be depressed and losing a lot of weight since he resigned, Al-Ahram reported, citing unnamed sources said to be in close contact with Mubarak.
Mubarak and his two sons – Alaa and Gamal – were sent to a 15-day detention Wednesday over pending questioning for financial and political corruption charges.
They are also alleged to have instigated violence against protesters during the three weeks of demonstrations in Egypt.
Alaa and Gamal were taken to Cairo’s Tora jail Wednesday “in a state of total disbelief”, unshaven and wearing white tracksuits, a source said.
If Mubarak’s heath should take a turn for the worse in the coming days and if he dies, his sons would only be allowed out of prison to attend the funeral, the source said.