Egypt awaits news on Mubarak's 'death'

20 Jun 2012, 2:35 pm   -   Source: AFP, Reuters
Share This
0 
+ Comment
0
Prayer time on Tuesday as Tahrir square is again filled with protesters, this time supporters of Mohammed Mursi. (AAP)

Prayer time on Tuesday as Tahrir square is again filled with protesters, this time supporters of Mohammed Mursi. (AAP)

Thousands of Egyptians have packed into Tahrir Square as both presidential candidates claimed victory in the country's historic vote, just as reports emerged that ex-President Mubarak was heading for hospital.

RELATED

Egypt's authorities will soon issue a statement on the health of Hosni Mubarak, state television said Wednesday, after conflicting reports said the ex-president was clinically dead or in a coma, Reuters reports.
  
"An official statement will be soon announced" on Mubarak's health, the state Nile TV reported. A member of the ruling military council also told AFP there would be a statement issued on Mubarak.
  
Egypt's state news agency had earlier reported that Mubarak was declared clinically dead on arrival at a military hospital from prison, where he was serving a life sentence.
  
But medical sources said he was in a coma and on an artificial respirator, an account confirmed by one of the ruling generals.
  
Mubarak was imprisoned on June 2 for failing to prevent the deaths of protesters during last year's uprising that ended his three-decade rule.
  
He suffers from a heart condition and high blood pressure, according to reports.

Al Jazeera English quoted his family as saying he was still alive, while an AFP source said he was in a coma.

RIVAL PROTESTS

Thousands of Egyptians had earlier packed into Tahrir Square on Tuesday to protest the ruling military's bid to grab new powers, as both presidential candidates claimed victory in the country's historic vote.
  
In the hub of the uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak, around 15,000 demonstrators chanted against his military successors, an AFP reporter said.
  
The demonstration comes against a backdrop of uncertainty over the winner of the presidential vote, with the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi and his rival former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq both claiming victory.
  
The Brotherhood said it would take part in Tuesday's protest, called by several groups that participated in Egypt's 2011 uprising, against measures by the ruling military council to claim sweeping powers.
  
Just as counting began in the pivotal election late Sunday, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) issued a constitutional declaration claiming legislative power after a court ordered parliament's dissolution.
  
The declaration also gives the council veto power over the wording of a new permanent constitution and appeared to interfere with the ability of the incoming president to exercise his powers.
  
"The dissolution of the parliament is null and void, the military council must leave and now legitimacy lies with the people who elected Mursi," said Abdel Basset Mohieddine, a Brotherhood supporter at the protest.
  
Official results in the presidential poll, the first since the uprising that ousted Mubarak, are not expected before Thursday, but both camps claimed victory for their candidates.
  
At a news conference on Tuesday, Mursi's campaign released what they said were certified figures, which they said showed their candidate taking 52 percent of the vote.
  
But Shafiq campaign spokesman Ahmed Sarhan told reporters he was "certain that the next president of Egypt is General Shafiq," saying the former prime minister had secured 51.5 percent of the vote.
  
State media also reported that counts showed Mursi ahead, but the electoral commission issued a statement on Tuesday evening urging both candidates to avoid releasing results before the official figures come out.
  
A confirmed win for Mursi would mark the first time the Islamists have taken the presidency of the Arab world's most populous nation, and there were jubilant scenes at his headquarters after his campaign projected victory.
  
Mursi himself has pledged to work "hand-in-hand with all Egyptians for a better future, freedom, democracy, development and peace."
  
"We are not seeking vengeance or to settle accounts," he said, adding that he would build a "modern, democratic state" for all Egyptians, Muslims and Christians alike.
  
No matter who emerges as the winner, the country faces the prospect of a  showdown between the Brotherhood and the ruling military.
  
The Brotherhood insists the parliament still has the power to legislate and said Monday it would take part in "all popular activities against the constitutional coup and the dissolution of parliament, beginning on Tuesday."
  
The ruling military body has introduced de facto martial law, given itself control of the legislature and state budget and also granted itself veto power on a new constitution.
  
The moves have sparked expression of concern from international capitals, with Washington and Paris calling on the military to stick to a schedule of handing control to a civilian government.
  
A delegation from the Carter Centre that observed the presidential vote also expressed concern, saying the constitutional declaration and other moves by the military called "into question the meaning and purpose of the elections."
  
And rights group Amnesty International warned in a statement that the moves put "the country on the path to further human rights violations."
  
But the military has sought to quiet fears over the declaration, insisting it will transfer power to the new president on schedule by the end of this month, and pledging the new leader would enjoy full powers.
  
"The president of the republic will be vested with all the powers of the president of the republic," a ruling SCAF General Mohammed al-Assar told reporters.

President Mubarak , Egypt Unrest

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube

Join the Discussion

Name
City / Suburb E.g. Artarmon, Sydney
Title
Comment
You have characters remaining.
Validation
What's this?
This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots.
All submitted comments become the property of SBS. They are moderated, so we reserve the right to edit comments and remove HTML tags. Not all submitted comments will be published. Publication does not mean we endorse the opinions expressed. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.