Report: Mubarak to Apologize to Egyptians, Plead for Amnesty
Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is to apologize to the nation and plead for amnesty, three months after he was overthrown by a popular uprising, according to a report in the independent daily al-Shorouk.
The report to appear in Tuesday's edition quoted Egyptian and Arab official sources as saying that Mubarak was "drafting a letter which will be broadcast on Egyptian and Arabic channels, apologizing on behalf of himself and his family for any offence caused to the people."
He is also to apologize "for any behavior which may have stemmed from false information passed on to him by his advisers."
The former president and his wife Suzanne are under arrest in a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after both of them suffered heart attacks during interrogation as part of a graft probe.
Mubarak is also ready to hand over his assets to the state in a bid to have the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces "look into an amnesty," the paper said.
A military source told Al-Shorouk that several Egyptian and Arab parties had been requesting an amnesty for Mubarak, 83, "within an acceptable legal framework."
The amnesty would apply to Mubarak, his wife Suzanne, and their two sons Alaa and Gamal who are held in Cairo's Tora prison on corruption charges, but sources say it is unlikely to be granted to the sons, the paper said.
Mubarak has also been questioned by authorities over the order to shoot anti-regime protesters who rallied across the country for 18 days to demand his ouster.
On Monday, Mubarak's wife pledged to hand over to the state money in two bank accounts and a luxury villa in Cairo.
"Suzanne Thabet, the wife of former president Hosni Mubarak, has given three powers of attorney to Assem al-Gohari, the head of the Illicit Gains Authority, authorising him to withdraw the cash from accounts in (two banks) and to sell a villa she owns," in Cairo, MENA reported.
The half-Welsh Suzanne was seen as the driving force behind plans to have her son Gamal take over the presidency from his father, a highly unpopular prospect in Egypt that sparked angry protests in recent years.
Mubarak, his wife, his two sons Alaa and Gamal and their wives were banned from travel and their assets ordered frozen by general prosecutor Abdel Magid Mahmud shortly after the former strongman was overthrown.
The two sons, along with dozens of officials and businessmen associated with the former regime, are being held in Cairo's notorious Tora prison which housed political dissidents during the Mubarak era.
Before the popular uprising which ousted Mubarak, Gamal, who was close to business executives and held a top post in Egypt's ruling party, was regarded as his father's successor, while Alaa concentrated on business.
The wives of Alaa and Gamal, Heidi Rasekh and Khadiga al-Gammal, have also been questioned over Mubarak's wealth.
Earlier this month, Switzerland said it had frozen 410 million francs ($463 million) in funds linked to Mubarak and his associates.
At least 846 people were killed during the protests and over 6,000 injured.
The military council that took over following Mubarak's resignation on February 11 has pledged to bring to justice all former regime officials found guilty of abuse.
Source: Agence France Presse
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