18 Jul 2011

Mubarak coma report denied

7:28 am on 18 July 2011

There are conflicting reports about the health of former Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, after his lawyer claimed he'd fallen into a coma.

Other doctors have denied that his condition has deteriorated.

The former president, ousted from power in February, is in hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and is due to stand trial in August.

The 83-year-old faces charges of abuse of power and killing protesters. More than 840 died in the 18 days of demonstrations that led to his removal.

The lawyer for the former president says he had been informed Mr Mubarak's health had suddenly deteriorated and that he was in a coma.

However the director of the hospital where Mr Mubarak is being treated denies the report, state television has said.

Another medical source told Reuters that Mr Mubarak occasionally slipped into a coma but that his condition was stable.

The former president's health has been subject to frequent speculation in the Egyptian media with some Egyptians seeing it as a ploy to avoid a trial.