By IANS/AKI,
Cairo: Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is “disappointed” at the people’s lack of appreciation for the work done by him, his lawyer said.
The 83-year-old Mubarak was forced out of power in February after 18 days of pro-democracy protests that began Jan 25.
“Mubarak is disappointed in the Egyptian people, and feels that an unfair and vicious campaign is being directed at him,” Fareed El Deeb told El Hayat TV channel.
El Deeb said Mubarak’s speeches during the protests show that he was “supportive” of the uprising and the fact that he decided to step down Feb 11 shows that he respected the will of his people.
“Mubarak is shocked that Egyptians do not see anything positive in the 62 years he served the country,” the lawyer said.
The former president was a national hero of the 1973 war against Israel and received numerous awards.
El Deeb denied that Mubarak had stashed money abroad.
Egyptians later launched several Facebook pages against El Deeb’s remarks. Some of them said, “The people hate Fareed El Deeb” and “Fareed El Deeb is the lawyer of all traitors and corrupt figures”.
Mubarak, along with his sons Alaa and Gamal, has been charged with “premeditated murder” of protesters during the revolt as well as illegally accumulating wealth and abuse of power.
The former president denies all charges. If found guilty, he could face the death penalty.
At least 840 people were killed and more than 6,000 wounded in Egypt during the uprising, says human rights group Amnesty International.