Small business owners and other Egyptians are exhausted by the ongoing clashes, and hope for a return to normalcy. Meanwhile, former president Hosni Mubarak could be released from jail. NBC’s Richard Engel reports.
By Alastair Jamieson, Staff writer, NBC News
Egypt’s former hardline President Hosni Mubarak was awaiting a court ruling Wednesday that could free him from prison, potentially stirring further unrest.
A court was set to review a petition for the former leader’s release after corruption charges against him were thrown out on Monday, Reuters and Al Jazeera reported.
An Egyptian court has ordered Hosni Mubarak to be set free for the first time in more than two years; meanwhile, police arrested a key spiritual leader in the nation. NBC’s chief foreign correspondent, Richard Engel, says these two political shifts could mean the new military-backed government wants to impose a Mubarak-like system.
However, the authoritarian ex-ruler still faces other court cases, including a retrial on charges of complicity in the killing of protesters in the 2011 Arab Spring uprising in which he was eventually toppled.
The court will convene behind closed doors at the Cairo prison where Mubarak is being held.
At 85, Mubarak may have no political future, but his release – which his lawyer predicts will happen this week – could stir emotions and raise questoins about whether the popular uprising that ended his 30-year rule is leading to a new form of military government, Reuters reported.
He is the second deposed ruler of Egypt to be behind bars.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Morsi, who was democratically elected in 2012 following the collapse of Mubarak’s regime, was ousted by the military on July 3.
Egypt remains deeply politically divided. Morsi’s removal sparked mass sit-in protest camps that were later cleared by security forces, backed by bulldozers – leading to violent clashes and the deaths of more than 800 civilians and 100 police and soldiers.
Although weakened by the death or arrest of some of its key leaders, Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood has vowed to bring down the army-backed interim government and has branded his ouster a “coup.”
Virginie Nguyen Hoang / AFP – Getty Images
Security forces backed by bulldozers forcefully closed pro-Morsi sit-ins, setting off clashes that killed hundreds of people.
On Tuesday, authorities arrested the group’s leader, Mohamed Badie – but the group immediately appointed a temporary replacement – 69-year-old doctor Mahmoud Ezzat – who has has been described as the Brotherhood’s ‘iron man’.
On Monday, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel called for an end to the violence, reiterating an earlier call from President Obama.
“As President Obama said last week, the violence must end,” Hagel said, adding that the United States’ role in Egypt’s future is limited. “Our ability to influence the outcome in Egypt is limited.”
Nevertheless, no decision has been made on withholding U.S. aid to Egypt.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest said a “review is ongoing” of U.S. aid, in “light of actions taken by the interim Egyptian government.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
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- Israel bolsters securty at Sinai border as Egypt roils
- Egypt in turmoil: What the turmoil means for US
This story was originally published on Wed Aug 21, 2013 4:34 AM EDT
Egypt ex-dictator Mubarak to be freed?
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