Egypt’s state-run media said that Hosni Mubarak, 85, could leave prison today after a court ruled that he should be released. The prime minister’s office said Mubarak would then be placed under house arrest, which was seen as a move to forestall a new wave of violent demonstrations in Egypt. It is also possible that he will be taken to a military hospital. In 2011, millions of Egyptians demonstrated for Mubarak, who had ruled Egypt with an iron fist for more than three decades, to resign. After he resigned he was tried and sentenced to life in prison last year for failing to prevent the killing of demonstrators. The court accepted his appeal and he was acquitted in a retrial.
In Egypt’s first democratic election last year, Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi was elected. But after widespread dissatisfaction with Morsi, he was forced to resign last month and is currently under arrest. The Egyptian military has appointed a transitional government. Morsi supporters have continued to demonstrate, calling for him to be reinstated, and at least 900 people including 100 soldiers and police have been killed in violent clashes in the past two weeks.