Hosni Mubarak out of coma: Officials

Cairo, Jul 18: Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who is under detention in a hospital, has regained consciousness after lapsing into a coma, a top hospital official has said.

The 83-year-old ex-ruler, who is facing trial for corruption and murder, had fell into a coma on Sunday at Sharm el-Sheikh hospital. Mohamed Fathalla, the head of the Sharm el-Sheikh facility said that Mubarak had recovered.

"He is now stable after suffering a coma that did not last long," CNN quoted Fathalla as saying.

Mubarak has been in a Sharm el-Sheikh hospital since April. He had suffered a heart attack during interrogation over fraud and the killing of pro-democracy protesters during the uprising which ousted him in February.

The onetime Egyptian strongman was toppled by a popular uprising in February. The former president faces trial in August on charges of ordering police to kill anti-government protesters during the uprising that forced him from office in February. He faces a possible death sentence if convicted.

Egyptian prosecutors have said Mubarak has suffered from depression, fatigue, repeated irregular heartbeats, low blood pressure that could lead to fainting and an increased risk of heart attack.

Mubarak's two sons Alaa and Gamal have both been remanded in custody at Tora Prison in Cairo, and are also scheduled to face trial next month.

PTI