Egypt's Mubarak could face death penalty

Egypt's ousted President Hosni Mubarak would face the death penalty if convicted of ordering the shooting of protesters during the uprisings that brought him down, the country's new justice minister said Saturday. Mohammed Al Guindi told the daily Al Ahram Saturday that Mubarak, his two sons and wife are also facing allegations of corruption, which he said the former president had made the chief "discourse" of his government. Mubarak, 82, stepped down on February 11 after 18 days of sustained protests. He was later placed under arrest after being hospitalized in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh for heart problems. At least 846 protesters were killed during the uprising. "Certainly, if convicted for the crime of killing protesters, it could result in the death sentence," said el-Guindi. He added that the key to the case was whether former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly, also under investigation, would testify that Mubarak had given the order to open fire on the protesters. "The only one capable of pardoning Mubarak ... would be the new president," said el-Guindi. "If I were the president, I will not pardon him for killing 800 martyrs." Egypt will hold new presidential elections in November. The minister also blamed Mubarak for engendering a culture of corruption in the government and he said the former president's wealth came from gas exports to Israel, through a company owned by a personal friend, and arms deals. Suzanne Mubarak, the former first lady, will also be investigated, the minister added, with the first questioning to take place in the next few days at the Sharm Al Shaikh Hospital where the former president is convalescing. Mubarak's wife, who was involved in a number of high profile charitable ventures, is suspected of illegally amassing wealth through her non-governmental organisations. Meanwhile, Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, the country's best organised movement, on Saturday announced the formation of a party to contest up to half of parliament's seats in a September election.