Hosni Mubarak to be freed

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is to be released from prison as he fights negligence and corruption charges. The former leader, 85, was jailed for life last year (12) for failing to stop the killing of protesters during the uprising which overthrew him in 2011.
He has launched an appeal against his conviction and is in the midst of a retrial, but officials ordered on Wednesday (21Aug13) that he should be freed as he has now served the maximum amount of pre-trial detention allowed.
It is reported he could be released from custody on Thursday (22Aug13).
Mubarak, who is in ailing health and suffered a heart attack while behind bars, is also facing corruption charges over allegations he accepted gifts from state-run publisher al-Ahram during his time as Egypt’s leader.