Egypt's Mubarak has 'heart crisis' in questioning

Police are seen in front of the Sharm el Sheikh International Hospital where former President Hosni Mubarak is hospitalised. -- PHOTO: AP

CAIRO - Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak suffered a 'heart crisis' on Tuesday during questioning over the killing of protesters and embezzling of public funds and is now in intensive care, state media said.

Mr Mubarak, ousted on Feb 11 after 30 years in office, was summoned on Sunday by the public prosecutor as part of the investigation. His sons, Alaa and Gamal, were also summoned by state prosecutors probing accusations of embezzlement.

In his first public comments since stepping down and which were broadcast by Al Arabiya on Sunday, Mr Mubarak denied any wrongdoing and described the allegations as 'lies'.

State television said Mr Mubarak, 82, suffered a 'heart crisis'during questioning. It said he was taken to a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he has been in internal exile since leaving office, and was now in intensive care.

But a hospital manager said Mubarak was well enough to keep answering questions, Arabiya reported. Justice Minister Mohamed el-Guindy was questioning Mubarak, it said.

Arabiya said earlier that Mubarak was being questioned in South Sinai, where Sharm el-Sheikh is located. 

-- REUTERS