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Hosni Mubarak in coma as Egypt tension grows Hosni Mubarak in coma as Egypt tension grows
(about 6 hours later)
The ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was on life support in hospital after his heart stopped. He was transferred from the Torah prison hospital to a military hospital, and was understood to be in a coma on Tuesday night. The ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is on life support in hospital after his heart stopped on Tuesday, deepening the uncertainty in the country amid conflicting claims of victory in the election to succeed him and and about whether his successor will have any power.
Mubarak, who lost power 16 months ago to a popular uprising demanding democracy, was transferred from a prison hospital to a military hospital and was understood to be in a coma on Tuesday night.
The state news agency Mena had initially reported that Mubarak was clinically dead soon after he was taken to the military hospital. Later accounts disputed this, saying he had improved slightly but that he remained in a critical condition.The state news agency Mena had initially reported that Mubarak was clinically dead soon after he was taken to the military hospital. Later accounts disputed this, saying he had improved slightly but that he remained in a critical condition.
It was reported that the 84-year-old had suffered a cardiac arrest which caused his heart to stop, but that he was resuscitated by paramedics at the prison hospital. It was reported that the 84-year-old had suffered a cardiac arrest which caused his heart to stop, but that he was resuscitated by paramedics at the prison hospital and then moved to the military hospital as his condition deteriorated.
He was then transferred to the military hospital because of his deteriorating condition. Mubarak's health crisis adds further layers to what is threatening to become a new chapter of unrest and political power struggles in Egypt.
Mubarak's health crisis added a new element of uncertainty just as a potentially explosive fight opened over who will succeed him, following elections at the weekend, and moves by the interim military government to extend its powers.
It adds further layers to what is threatening to become a new chapter of unrest and political power struggles in Egypt, 16 months after Mubarak was removed by a popular uprising demanding democracy. Egyptians were uncertain about Mubarak's fate, about who will succeed him and about whether his successor will have any power.
The campaign of Mubarak's former prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, said that Shafiq has won Egypt's presidential election, countering the Muslim Brotherhood's claim of victory for its candidate, Mohammed Morsi.The campaign of Mubarak's former prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, said that Shafiq has won Egypt's presidential election, countering the Muslim Brotherhood's claim of victory for its candidate, Mohammed Morsi.
The election commission is to announce the official final results on Thursdayand no matter who it names as victor, his rival is likely to reject the result as a fraud. The election commission is to announce the official final results on Thursday and no matter who it names as victor, his rival is likely to reject the result as a fraud.
The Brotherhood, Egypt's most powerful political group, is already escalating its challenge against the ruling military over the generals' move this week to give themselves overwhelming authority over the next president. Some 50,000 protesters, mostly Islamists, massed in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Tuesday evening chanting slogans in support of Morsi and denouncing the generals' power grab.The Brotherhood, Egypt's most powerful political group, is already escalating its challenge against the ruling military over the generals' move this week to give themselves overwhelming authority over the next president. Some 50,000 protesters, mostly Islamists, massed in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Tuesday evening chanting slogans in support of Morsi and denouncing the generals' power grab.
The health crisis of Mubarak, who is serving a life prison sentence, is yet one more thing to raise tensions.The health crisis of Mubarak, who is serving a life prison sentence, is yet one more thing to raise tensions.
Moving Mubarak out of prison is likely to further infuriate many people.Moving Mubarak out of prison is likely to further infuriate many people.
Egyptians have been sceptical of earlier reports that his health was worsening since he was put in prison on 2 June, believing the reports were just a pretext to move him to another facility. There is a widespread suspicion that security and military officials sympathetic to their old boss are giving him preferential treatment.Egyptians have been sceptical of earlier reports that his health was worsening since he was put in prison on 2 June, believing the reports were just a pretext to move him to another facility. There is a widespread suspicion that security and military officials sympathetic to their old boss are giving him preferential treatment.
Details of the crisis were still sketchy. Earlier the news agency and officials said that while at the Torah prison hospital he suffered a "fast deterioration of his health". His heart stopped beating until he was revived by defibrillation, then he suffered a stroke.Details of the crisis were still sketchy. Earlier the news agency and officials said that while at the Torah prison hospital he suffered a "fast deterioration of his health". His heart stopped beating until he was revived by defibrillation, then he suffered a stroke.
Even before this latest incident many in Egypt had contended that there would be some sort of ploy to get Mubarak out of the prison hospital to more comfortable surroundings. As reports of his health improved, some felt that this had been the case. Mostafa Hussein said on Twitter, "Mena published a lie to get the old man out of prison. Well played Scaf."Even before this latest incident many in Egypt had contended that there would be some sort of ploy to get Mubarak out of the prison hospital to more comfortable surroundings. As reports of his health improved, some felt that this had been the case. Mostafa Hussein said on Twitter, "Mena published a lie to get the old man out of prison. Well played Scaf."
Mubarak's health had deteriorated severely after he was sentenced earlier this month and he was transferred from an international medical centre to the prison hospital. He has needed a defibrillator several times.Mubarak's health had deteriorated severely after he was sentenced earlier this month and he was transferred from an international medical centre to the prison hospital. He has needed a defibrillator several times.
The autocratic ruler presided over a three-decade reign before being ousted after a wave of protests that began January 25 2011. More than 850 people died in 18 days. It was six months before he was put on trial and on 2 June he received a prison sentence for failing to prevent the deaths of protesters.The autocratic ruler presided over a three-decade reign before being ousted after a wave of protests that began January 25 2011. More than 850 people died in 18 days. It was six months before he was put on trial and on 2 June he received a prison sentence for failing to prevent the deaths of protesters.