Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is suffering from cancer, his defence lawyer said today, citing a medical report to assess whether the former leader is fit enough to stand trial.
"Mubarak has cancer and this was included in the last medical report," said lawyer Farid el-Deeb.
He declined to say whether he was referring to a new medical report that had not been made public. Satellite news channel Al Jazeera's English language website cited Mr Deeb as saying Mr Mubarak had "stomach cancer and the tumors are growing."
Mr Mubarak (83) was hospitalised in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after reportedly suffering heart problems during initial questioning. He is due to stand trial on August 3rd for the killing of protesters and abuse of power.
A committee of doctors appointed to assess Mr Mubarak's state of health said in late May that he should not be moved to a prison hospital because he was depressed, had poor blood circulation and was at risk of a sudden heart attack.
The committee also said he had tumours in his gall bladder and pancreas, for which he had had operations in the past. However, the committee did not say at the time whether those tumours were malignant or benign.
No one at the prosecutor's office was available for comment.
Mr Mubarak has not appeared in public since retreating to his family's villa in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh shortly after his overthrow.
He made a recorded statement in April in which he denied accusations of corruption and vowed to defend his reputation.
The former leader was detained in hospital in Sharm in mid-April after officials said he had heart problems during initial questioning.
Reuters