Health of Egypt's Mubarak deteriorates further

Hamza Hendawi, The Associated Press

CAIRO - Hosni Mubarak's health deteriorated further on Monday with the ousted president slipping in and out of consciousness and being feed liquids intravenously, Egyptian security officials said.

Doctors had to use a defibrillator twice on 84-year-old Mubarak, according to the officials at Torah prison hospital, where the former leader is serving a life sentence. They did not say whether Mubarak's heart had stopped or he suffered from irregular heartbeats. But they said that Mubarak has slipped in and out of consciousness three times so far on Monday. He was also reported to be slipping in and out of consciousness on Sunday.

Mubarak's two sons, one-time heir apparent Gamal and wealthy businessman Alaa, were by his side, the officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The two sons are being held at Torah prison awaiting trial on insider trading charges.

According to Egyptian officials, Mubarak's health has deteriorated sharply since he was convicted on June of failing to prevent the killings of hundreds of protesters during the uprising that ousted him last year. They have also said he is suffering from deep depression.

He and his two sons were acquitted of corruption charges.

Mubarak's wife, Suzanne, visited him in Torah on Sunday and, according to the officials, demanded that he be transferred to a better equipped hospital outside the penal system. The officials said such a transfer was likely unless Mubarak's health improves.

In his last public appearance at his sentencing on June 2, the bedridden Mubarak sat stoned-faced in the metal defendants' cage in the courtroom, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses. However, officials said that he broke into tears when he learned that he was being transferred to a prison. It took officials hours to convince Mubarak to leave the helicopter that ferried him from the courthouse to the prison.

Media reports quoted Mubarak at the time as saying the military council who took over after his ouster had deceived him. "Egypt has sold me. They want me to die here," he reportedly said.