Mubarak wants to die in Egypt: report

Cairo, Feb 16 (PTI) Longtime Egyptian President HosniMubarak, who was toppled in a popular uprising last week,wants to die in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh where hehas been living since his ouster, a report said today.

82-year-old Mubarak, who is suffering from healthproblems, turned down Saudi Arabia''s offer to visit thekingdom, saying he was determined to see out his days inEgypt, Al Arabiya quoted a Saudi official as saying.

"He is not dead but is not doing well at all andrefuses to leave. Basically, he has given up and wants to diein Sharm," said the Saudi official on condition of anonymity.

Official confirmation could not immediately beobtained from the Saudi government.

In his last speech on state TV, Mubarak said he wouldnot flee from the his country and vowed to die in Egypt.

A number of Egyptian newspapers on Monday reportedthat Mubarak went into a full coma on Saturday night at hisSharm al-Sheikh residence.

Egyptian daily ''Al-Masry Al-Youm'' reported that soonafter moving to the resort, Mubarak who ruled Egypt for 30years was gravely ill and slipped into a coma.

But an pro-government newspaper denied the report butsaid the leader was in severe psychological condition and wasdeclining treatment.

The Egyptian President had been in Germany for gallbladder treatment month''s before the protest against himstarted.

Britain''s ''Daily Telegraph'' quoting witnesses at theresort said, that the former President may be suffering fromcancer.

Mubarak spent more and more time at his residence inSharm el-Sheikh near the end of his time as leader, retreatingto the clean air and sea breeze to recover from ailments. PTI