Mubarak's supporters call for his release

Cairo, June 12 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Supporters of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, have urged authorities to release him from jail and transfer him to a military hospital because of his poor health.

"Mubarak, like any prisoner on his place, must be transferred to the military hospital," said one of his supporters, Mohamed Zahran.

He said the prison hospital does not have necessary medical equipment and professionals who could help the 84-year-old former president.

On June 2, the Cairo criminal court sentenced Mubarak to life imprisonment after being declared guilty of giving orders to kill protesters during an uprising in January 2011.

The ex-president's supporters blamed the interior ministry's officials for Mubarak's poor health as they said he was not provided with necessary treatment.

They also recalled that Mubarak's political opponents, a former presidential candidate Ayman Nour and one of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, Khairat Ash-Shatir, have been previously released from jails over health concerns.

Mubarak is serving his term in Tora prison near Cairo.

Media reports Monday said prison doctors had to use a defibrillator as Mubarak's heart had stopped twice. The interior ministry, however, dismissed the reports, saying the ex-president was in "grave, but stable" condition.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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