Egypt: Mubarak summoned by prosecutors

Egypt‘s public prosecutor has summoned Hosni Mubarak as part of investigations into the killing of protesters and embezzlement of public funds.

Mubarak’s sons Gamal and Alaa were also summoned in the embezzlement probe, the prosecutor said in a statement, adding that comments by Mubarak today in which he denied accusations of corruption would not affect the investigations.

In his first statement since being forced from power, the former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak has accused critics of tarnishing his reputation.

His comments came as thousands more protesters gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square despite warnings from the army that they would be dispersed. The demonstrators have demanded the prosecution of the former President.

Mubarak said information sent to Egypt’s public prosecutor would show he owns no financial assets or real estate abroad.

Details of bank accounts owned by his sons Alaa and Gamal would disprove any suspicions of profiteering and illegal gains.

“I will uphold all my legal rights to defend my reputation as well as that of my family both at home and abroad,” Mubarak said in a recorded statement carried by Al Arabiya TV.

“I have been, and still am, pained by what I and my family are facing from fraudulent campaigns and unfounded allegations that seek to harm my reputation, my integrity and my military and political record.”

He said he only had assets and bank accounts in one Egyptian bank, as he had previously disclosed.

Reformers who drove the mass street protests that ousted the autocratic leader of three decades have demanded tougher steps to recover assets they say he and others took from the state.

Since he left office, Mubarak, 82, and his family have stayed in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and Egyptian officials have denied reports and rumours that he is very ill.

Mubarak said “lies” carried by local and foreign media that he and his family own extensive real estate holdings abroad would be disproved.