Hosni Mubarak leaves prison to a mixed reception from Egyptian public

Friday, August 23, 2013

Hosni Mubarak leaves prison to a mixed reception from Egyptian public

Former president's transfer to hospital greeted by jubilation, indifference and fear that it is another sign of resurgent old order

Marwa Awad and Ian Black in Cairo
theguardian.com, Thursday 22 August 2013 15.09 EDT

After more than two years in jail, Egypt's ousted former president Hosni Mubarak is under house arrest in a Cairo military hospital, having been flown by helicopter from prison. His lawyer said this hospital would be the last step on the 85-year-old's road to being freed.
Emerging on to the roof of the prison building carried on a trolley stretcher, casually dressed in white trousers, a shirt and loafers, the former dictator flashed a smile in the direction of assembled supporters.
Mubarak, who ruled for 30 years, still faces retrial on charges of complicity in the killing of protesters during the 25 January revolution. But the dramatic events of the past week – during which he has been transformed from a villain of the state to a man about to win his freedom – has raised doubts over whether the new martial leadership has the will to pursue the case against him.
The final say on where Mubarak will go rests with Hazem el-Beblawi, the prime minister in the military-backed interim government.
Critics fear his release is a sign that the military is reinventing an old order which has regained prominence since elected president and former Muslim Brotherhood member Mohamed Morsi was removed from power on in a military coup backed by popular will seven weeks ago. In a matter of weeks, Egypt has seen the return of the old order's state security and police forces to streets.

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