Egyptian state television says former President Hosni Mubarak was hospitalized Tuesday after suffering heart problems during questioning by prosecutors over violence against anti-government protesters and embezzling public funds.
The 82-year-old former leader was taken to the intensive care unit of a medical facility in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he has been in internal exile since leaving office.
News reports quote Egyptian officials as saying Mr. Mubarak is continuing to answer investigators' questions in the hospital. Pro-democracy activists were reportedly demonstrating outside.
In addition to Mr. Mubarak, his two sons - Gamal and Alaa - were also questioned by state prosecutors Tuesday as part of an investigation into corruption and other alleged crimes.
The ousted president has said the allegations against him are unfounded, and that he has the right to defend his reputation and that of his family. His remarks were broadcast Sunday by the Al Arabiya news channel. They were his first public comments since mass protests forced his departure in February.
Separately, Egyptian military police forcibly removed protesters from Cairo's Tahrir Square Tuesday, ending a four-day sit-in. Security forces detained many demonstrators as they fled the area.
Protesters have stepped up pressure on Egypt's ruling military to try Mr. Mubarak and members of his government for corruption and other crimes. On Friday, tens of thousands rallied in Tahrir Square.
The Associated Press reported that Egypt's Justice Ministry ordered Safwat el-Sherif, a senior aide of Mr. Mubarak and one of the most powerful men in his government, detained for an additional 15 days pending an investigation into his role in attacks on protesters during the uprising. Sherif had already been remanded into custody for 15 days on corruption charges.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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