Egypt's ex-president Hosni Mubarak detained for investigation

Mr Mubarak's two sons are also detained for questioning in Sharm el Sheikh, where the family has lived since the president's ouster on February 11.

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CAIRO // Egypt's prosecutor general announced on Wednesday the 15-day detention of the former President Hosni Mubarak pending inquiries into accusations of corruption, abuse of authority and the killings of protesters during the uprising that ousted him from power.

A separate announcement said Mr Mubarak's two sons were detained for questioning in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh, where the family has lived since the president's ouster on February 11 in a popular uprising. The sons, Gamal and his businessman brother Alaa, were transferred Wednesday to a Cairo prison.

The announcements were the latest in a dramatic series of events surrounding the probes against top former regime officials, and came just hours after Mr Mubarak, 82, was hospitalised with heart problems in Sharm el Sheikh. Mr Mubarak is to remain in the hospital during his detention.

Since his ouster, Egyptians have been calling for the investigation of their ruler of more than 30 years, along with that of many members of his government.

A statement from the prosecutor general's office announcing Mr Mubarak's detention was posted on the social networking site Facebook early on Wednesday. It said the ongoing investigation was into allegations of assaults, killings and injury of protesters, corruption, squandering of public funds, and the abuse of authority for personal gain.

"The prosecutor general orders the detention of former President Hosni Mubarak and his sons Gamal and Alaa for 15 days pending investigation," read the statement. The Facebook page was set up as an outreach from the Justice Ministry to the families of those killed and injured during the 18 days of protests that ousted Mubarak in mid-February.

Most of the top officials of Mr Mubarak's regime are now being investigated on allegations of corruption and abuse of authority.