Mubarak in coma but not clinically dead

Cairo, June 20 (IANS) Former Egypt president Hosni Mubarak, who was sentenced to life in prison for killing protesters, has gone into coma and put on life support, but was not "clinically dead", hospital officials said.

The 84-year-old Mubarak was put on a respirator in an intensive care unit at a military hospital in Cairo since being transferred from Tora Prison Tuesday evening after he suffered a stroke, Xinhua reported Wednesday.

Security personnel in plain clothes were stationed at the hospital, and were allowing no one to enter.

The official MENA news agency earlier quoted medical sources as saying that Mubarak's "heart stopped beating and he was defibrillated many times but he had not responded".

Prison officials said Mubarak was suffering from "severe depression" since he was given a life sentence June 2.

Dozens of supporters showed up Tuesday evening at the gate of the hospital. Some held Mubarak's photos while others prayed for him.

"He is a hero of Egypt. He deserves our respect," said a middle-aged woman. But she was sharply interrupted by a young man who called her a liar.

"He should be hanged, Mubarak betrayed his people," the man shouted.

Police in plain clothes appeared and dragged the young man from the scene before the argument could escalate, Xinhua said.

The official announcement of the winner of the presidential elections would be made Thursday.

Both candidates, the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi and Mubarak's former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq, have claimed victory in the elections.