Egypt: Mubarak and sons detained amid corruption probe
Hosni Mubarak is said to have been refusing food and drink while in detentionEgypt's prosecutor general has ordered the detention of former President Hosni Mubarak, ahead of an investigation into corruption and abuse allegations.
Mr Mubarak, 82, is in hospital after reportedly suffering heart problems. His detention order will be in place for 15 days, state TV reported.
His sons Alaa and Gamal have also been detained amid allegations of corruption and violence, police say.
Mr Mubarak stood down in February after a popular uprising against his rule.
Younger son Gamal was once widely seen as a possible successor to his father as president.
State TV said on Tuesday that Hosni Mubarak had suffered a heart attack, though other reports indicated that he was well enough to undergo further questioning.
He had been keeping a low profile in Sharm el-Sheikh, a Red Sea resort, after fleeing to his holiday villa there when he was overthrown.
Police van peltedEarlier on Wednesday Maj Gen Mohammed el-Khatib, head of provincial security in South Sinai, announced that Mr Mubarak's sons would be detained for 15 days.
"Brothers, whatever you wanted, you have got," he told a crowd gathered outside the courthouse where the pair were being questioned, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Recent protests in Egypt have called loudly for the arrest and investigation of the Mubaraks.
As a police van drove the brothers away, the crowd of about 2,000 pelted it with stones, bottles and flip-flops, AP said.
Prosecutors are investigating the killing of hundreds of protesters and allegations of corruption under Mr Mubarak's 30-year rule.
Mr Mubarak has been banned from leaving the country, along with his sons and their wives, and the family's assets have been frozen.
In a pre-recorded audio message on Sunday, he broke his silence of the last two months to say his reputation and that of his sons had been damaged and he would work to clear their names.
On Tuesday, Egyptian soldiers and police moved into Tahrir Square in Cairo and ended a sit-in by protesters demanding civilian rule and swifter prosecution of former officials.
A military council has been ruling Egypt since Mr Mubarak stepped down.
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