Cairo: Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is likely “very soon” to be transferred from a prison hospital to a military medical facility after his health seriously deteriorated, according to security sources.
“The medical team treating him has recommended his swift transfer to stop the continuing deterioration in his health,” said one source on condition of anonymity.
He is likely to be taken to the Nile-Side Maadi Military Hospital in Cairo, added the source. “He will receive treatment at the cardiac and blood vessel department there until his German doctor arrives,” said the source.
Mubarak, 84, fell in and out of consciousness again yesterday, a further sign of deterioration, according to the same source. “His doctors have managed to bring under control a sudden rise in his blood pressure,” said the source.
Meanwhile, medical sources said that Mubarak is susceptible to a stroke due to his irregular heartbeat.
He is also suffering from shortness of breath and problems in the arteries, they added. “Doctors have to feed him intravenously after he stopped eating because of severe depression,” they added.
Mubarak’s health has been critical since he was taken to the hospital in Tora Prison in southern Cairo on June 2 when a court sentenced him to life imprisonment for complicity in killing hundreds of protesters in the revolt against him more than a year ago.
“The prison administration today approved Mubarak’s request to allow his (older) son Alaa to accompany him,” said the security source.
Mubarak’s younger son, Jamal, is already escorting him. Both sons are in prison awaiting trial for alleged stock market fraud.
Mubarak’s wife, Suzan, was allowed on Sunday to make an exceptional visit to him – the second visit in a week.
A pro-Mubarak group, calling itself “We Are Sorry, President”, has filed a petition to the country’s chief prosecutor Abdul Majid Mahmoud to issue a pardon for Mubarak on health grounds.
“The prosecutor should grant him a health pardon as he (the prosecutor) pardoned Ayman Nour and Khairat Al Shater (two opponents of Mubarak),” said the group.
