Egypt's Hosni Mubarak released from prison
World 22:07
Cairo, August 22: Deposed Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak has been released from prison on Thursday, over two years after he was jailed on charges of corruption and for killing protesters, but will remain under house arrest pending trials.
The 85-year-old ailing ex-President was taken from Cairo's Tora prison by medical helicopter, following a court ruling which ordered his release.
He was initially taken to a military hospital in Maadi, a suburb in southern Cairo, Al Jazeera reported.
A small crowd of supporters gathered outside the prison and cheered as the helicopter took off.
Meanwhile, the April 6 youth movement has called protests on Friday against his release. But his release was met with indifference from many Egyptians, who are more focused on the country's recent political crisis and last week's massacre of supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi.
Mubarak still faces a retrial on charges of killing protesters during the 2011 revolution, and three other corruption cases as well.
But he has already spent more than two years in pre-trial detention, the maximum allowed under Egyptian law, and so the courts have ruled him eligible for release pending trial.
Hazem el-Beblawi, the prime minister, said last night that Mubarak would be placed under house arrest following his release.
It was unclear where he would be held, in Cairo, at his villa in the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, or elsewhere.
At least one of those corruption cases against Mubarak could be close to a settlement.
The 85-year-old ailing ex-President was taken from Cairo's Tora prison by medical helicopter, following a court ruling which ordered his release.
He was initially taken to a military hospital in Maadi, a suburb in southern Cairo, Al Jazeera reported.
A small crowd of supporters gathered outside the prison and cheered as the helicopter took off.
Meanwhile, the April 6 youth movement has called protests on Friday against his release. But his release was met with indifference from many Egyptians, who are more focused on the country's recent political crisis and last week's massacre of supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi.
Mubarak still faces a retrial on charges of killing protesters during the 2011 revolution, and three other corruption cases as well.
But he has already spent more than two years in pre-trial detention, the maximum allowed under Egyptian law, and so the courts have ruled him eligible for release pending trial.
Hazem el-Beblawi, the prime minister, said last night that Mubarak would be placed under house arrest following his release.
It was unclear where he would be held, in Cairo, at his villa in the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, or elsewhere.
At least one of those corruption cases against Mubarak could be close to a settlement.
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