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Subscribe to RSSHosni Mubarak's personal attorney says that the ousted Egyptian leader's condition has stabilized since suffering a stroke. NBC's Richard Engel reports from Cairo.
Egypt’s state news agency said former President Hosni Mubarak is "clinically dead" after multiple strokes, but a lawyer for Mubarak told NBC News early Wednesday that the ousted leader was clinging to life.
Mubarak, 84, had reportedly suffered multiple strokes and heart failure and had been moved late Tuesday to a military hospital from the prison hospital where he was being treated. He was reported to be on life support.
His health has been deteriorating since 3 p.m. (9 a.m. ET), his lawyers told NBC. He suffered two or three strokes and his heart had to be restarted with a defibrillator, they said.
Video on Hayat TV showed an ambulance taking Mubarak to Maadi military hospital, the same one where his predecessor Anwar Sadat was declared dead more than 30 years ago after being gunned down by Islamic militants.
"He is in really bad shape," a U.S. official told NBC News.
The confusion over the state of health of the former leader came as his longtime opponents in the Muslim Brotherhood claimed victory of their candidate, Mohammed Morsi, over Ahmed Shafiq, a candidate drawn from the military elite in a presidential election held over the weekend.
An 18-day uprising ended Mubarak’s 30-year rule on Feb. 11, 2011, sparking months of social unrest and political turmoil.
Speculation about Mubarak's health had swirled since he was jailed effectively for life on June 2 for failing to halt the killings of hundreds of the protesters who toppled him.
Philippe Bouchon / AFP - Getty Images
The President of Egypt for nearly 30 years, Mubarak was an advocate for peace in the Middle East and a major U.S. ally, but Egyptians eventually grew tired of his corrupt regime and he was ousted in a popular revolt in February 2011.
He had been moved to Tora prison hospital from a plush military hospital where he was held during the 10-month trial.
Critics had said his illness was being exaggerated to win public sympathy. Egypt's official news agency earlier this month denied reports that Mubarak had slipped into a coma.
Slideshow: Life of Hosni Mubarak
Egypt's prison authority on June 11 approved a request to let Mubarak's eldest son, Alaa, who is being held at the jail pending trial, stay close to him in the prison hospital because of his deteriorating health, security sources said.
His youngest son, Gamal, once viewed as heir-apparent to the presidency and who is also detained pending trial, was moved closer to him earlier.
Mubarak’s wife, Suzanne, and the wives of his two sons visited him earlier this month and demanded he be moved to a hospital outside prison.
This report from Charlene Gubash, NBC News Cairo producer, includes information from Reuters and The Associated Press.
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I don't believe it.
It's too convenient a ploy to spirit him away.
He did not shoot down protesters, his men fired at a rioting mob...just as Obama's would have done. And now that the Islamic Brotherhood is in charge, I think we will all wind up wishing that Mubarak's men had had better aim.
I'm having a hard time having any sympathy for him...
just erase him from your brain
If he is clinically dead..well, then he is dead. He timed it perfectly. The exit. I was looking at a pic of he and Anwar Sadat at that reception where Sadat was assassinated but Mubarak who was his vice-president went on to become the leader of the country for thirty years.....how bizarre....was he behind the assassination of Sadat ? I thought Sadat was a progressive and advanced human being as I remember crying when he was murdered. I felt so sad he was gunned down when he was trying to make positive changes. Was Mubarak involved ? it would make sense now that I look back on it.
Well, they always said that when Mubarak took over, there was a very good reason that he never named anyone as his vice-president.
I think of the song in the Wizard of Oz, when the house falls on the Wicked Witch of the East......"He's isn't only merely dead, he's really most sincerely dead!" Or not really, just clinically. Call me when it's over....
Well, Clinically bury him or clinically cremate him.
It will be very interesting to see how his longtime ally and supporter in the west - the USA - officially responds to the death of this former head of state.....
OK, just as I thought! The trolls are here yappin' about how "happy" they are he's dead, he should die a thousand deaths and worse. I knew him better than most of the trolls, and that means I would not know him if I bumped into him @ Times Square.
The fact is, he was one of the best hopes, in the Arab world, we had to get some peace in the mid east. Mubarek helped get the radical Palestinian front to meet with Israel. He conducted himself with respect to the U.S. who was his "bread basket." It was a give & take realtionship. DO NOT expectthat with the new "boyz in town." The Brotherhood will see the U.S. as enemy, andif you like that, if you think that is justified...kiss your porn, rap, western styles and ways, gone if you are anywhere near the mid East!
Yeah, and to help them get over their hard feelings toward us, we will probably double our aid to Egypt so that they can buy the loyalty of the masses with bigger bread subsidies and pay all of their preachers better to incite the ignorant masses against Christians and other minorities.
Somebody slipped him a Mickey.
Sometimes the best comment, is no comment at all.
No Comment.
yea so u shouldnt of commented
they killed him he just happened to die after his removal from power um no i dont think so they did something ...............at least be honest about it lol hehe
Remember the Lockerbie bomber, who was "3 months from dead" in 1989, but died this spring. An impartial medical examination should be demanded!
it was 2009
how is dna going to prove if he's alive or dead?
shoot him
That was our ally guys and a whole lot better than what is going to take over.
What he really needs is a visit and an Apology from President Obama to Perk him up and get him going
How did Hosni Mubarak get so sick and now he is basically dead? It is like he was poisoned on purpose one way or another, its so perfectly planned in timing. Egypt seems to be building up steam more then others around it and I feel like cheering for them but they will end up attacking Israel or something, I think. If they just keep protesting and improving there own countries laws and making good for themselves, I think all would be proud for them still. People like to see a people and country standing up and fighting for there rights.
He is about as dead as the enron guy who also conveniently died right after his conviction.
Do not for a second believe either one is dead.
Well, the old persona is dead. Now he will move into his new persona and be well hidden and protected.
basically dead? he would still make better decissions than the idiot we have in office here.
I am leery of this development. Why did they take him to a military hospital. The military has always supported him. This could be a prison break. Lets see what happens.
He is in better shape than our economy. We could use him over here for some decisions that need to be made
Mubarak: I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector: 'Ere, he says he's not dead.
Large Man with Dead Body: Yes he is.
Mubarak: I'm not.
The Dead Collector: He isn't.
Large Man with Dead Body: Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.
Mubarak: I'm getting better.
Large Man with Dead Body: No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment.
The Dead Collector: Well, I can't take him like that. It's against regulations.
Mubarak: I don't want to go on the cart.
Large Man with Dead Body: Oh, don't be such a baby.
Traded one dictator for another - Muslim Brotherhood. Wait until Sharia Law crushes you and your women. Your women had freedoms under Mubarak. Now they won't. You think you will have more prosperity under Muslim Brotherhood? Now you will have greater poverty. We will hear your cries but it will be too late. You made your bed - now sleep in it.
"Democracy" with no underlying basis of human rights is a cruel joke. Even if it is "the will of the people" to kill all of the Jews, Christians, gays, whatever, it's no more right than if it's a decision made unilateraly by an avowed dictator.
My condolences to his family and the citizens of Egypt. Its scary to think who will replace him. Most definately the new leader of Egypt will murder more of his opponents and remove all doubt that there are freedoms of any sort in Egypt. RIP Mr Murbarak. AMEN
Well.... he doesn't have much to live for. I hope that his passing doesn't usher in a period of extreme violence.
ESAYED... Gee whats the poverty Stats will be under The Muslim Brotherhood... wanna take bets on it being double! This MAN was our ALLY and we threw him under The Obama BUS. This man kept PEACE in the Middle East ...wanna bet All hell breaks out now! You will wish he was back in power along with the Saudi Prince that just passed this weekend.