Egypt's prosecutor general has ordered the detention of former president Hosni Mubarak ahead of an investigation into allegations of corruption and abuse.
Mr Mubarak, 82, is in a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after reportedly suffering heart problems, the BBC reports.
The 82-year-old was taken ill while meeting prosecutors investigating the killing of hundreds of protesters and allegations of corruption, according to reports.
State television reported that Mr Mubarak's detention order will be in place for 15 days.
Police say Mr Mubarak's sons, Alaa and Gamal, have also been detained amid allegations of corruption and violence.
Gamal, an investment banker, was a high-ranking member of President Mubarak's ruling party. His close associates were billionaires and held top positions in the ruling party and the government, the BBC reports.
Mr Mubarak stood down on 11 February after a popular uprising against his 30-year rule. The former president, his sons and their wives have been banned from leaving Egypt and their assets have been frozen.
Since then, tens of thousands of protesters have staged weekly Friday protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square, demanding that he stand trial. About 800 people are thought to have been killed during the protests.
Soldiers and police are said to have ended the latest five-day occupation in the square, the BBC reports.
Hundreds of protesters had been demanding civilian rule and swifter prosecution of disgraced former officials, principally Mr Mubarak.
