CAIRO-Egypt attorney general announced Wednesday the arrest of 15 days of the former president of the country pending investigations into allegations of corruption, misuse of authority and the killings of demonstrators, in an unprecedented investigation of a former ruler in the world Arabic.
The announcement was the latest in a series of dramatic events surrounding the probes against the former regime officials, and came hours after former Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, 82, was hospitalized with heart problems in the resort of Mar Red Sharm el-Sheikh.
Since the overthrow of Mubarak on 11 February on a wave of popular protests, the Egyptians have been calling for the investigation of its ruler for a long time together with many members of his government.
A statement from the attorney general's office announced the arrest of Mubarak was posted on the Facebook social networking site early Wednesday. It said the current research was to allegations of corruption, waste of public funds and abuse of authority for personal gain.
Hours earlier, a separate announcement, Clinton said two children were being interrogated and detained. Mubarak is believed to remain in the hospital during his detention.
"The attorney general ordered the arrest of former President Hosni Mubarak and his sons, Gamal and Alaa for 15 days pending investigation," read the last statement. Facebook page was created as an extension of the Ministry of Justice for families of those killed and injured during the 18 days of protests that toppled Mubarak, in mid-February.
Most senior members of Mubarak's regime are being investigated over allegations of corruption and abuse of authority.
Despite probe, relations between the Egyptian army, who took control after Mubarak was overthrown, and the protest movement have deteriorated in recent weeks. The protesters say the investigations are slow and are outweighed by the abuses of rights by the new rulers.
They have also criticized the army for being too close to the old regime and Mubarak quickly not to prosecute, while hundreds of protesters remain in military prison after a demonstration last month and others were given speedy trials before military courts.
Wael Ghoneim, one of the activists who organized the revolt against Mubarak, which began on January 25 to comment on the arrest of Mubarak with a tweet: "Justice in the action once more."
While the former president was taken to hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, where he has been living since he was removed from power, his children were taken for questioning to the court by attorneys near Cairo.
An angry crowd of 2,000 people had gathered outside the hospital Tuesday night, demanding the arrest of the children. "Then in the early hours of Wednesday, provincial security chief in South Sinai told the crowd that Gamal and his brother Alaa employers would be arrested.
"Brothers, all I wanted, you have ... 15 days," said Major General Mohammed el-Khatib, as the crowd erupted in cheers.
As a police van with the curtains drawn to the brothers took the crowd threw water bottles, rocks and flip-flops, a lack of respect in the Arab world.
Later, an airport official at the airport of Sharm el-Sheik said the children have been taken on board a private jet to the Torah prison on the outskirts of Cairo. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The growing role of Gamal Mubarak in the government during the last decade and a belief that would succeed his father helped fuel the protest movement in Egypt.
Hundreds are estimated to have died during the protests when police opened fire and suppressed the crowd. Officials that the number of protesters killed during the uprising of 365, but human rights activists and others have said the figure is much higher. According to a count by the Front for the Defence of Egyptian protesters, a group that provides medical and legal assistance to the demonstrators, killing 685 people from March 7.
The authorities are now investigating government officials for his role in ordering the violence.
Gamal is also seen as the architect of the privatization program in Egypt and the economic liberalization that has brought billions in foreign investment but has also widened the gap between rich and poor.
Many of his relatives were billionaires and held top positions in the ruling party and government. There are accusations that used their positions for personal gain.
Mubarak arrived Tuesday night under heavy police protection to the main hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh and left his armored Mercedes without help before being taken to the presidential suite in the pyramid-shaped building, doctors and security officials in the hospital, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Shortly after hospitalization and a sign that your condition can not be serious, Justice Minister Mohamed El-Guindi, Mubarak said he was questioned after a whole for their role in violence against the demonstrators. The Facebook ministry statement said Mubarak's lawyers and a medical team were present during the interrogation.
The investigation into allegations of corruption would be carried out later by the Ministry of Justice Department corruption, he added.
The protest movement that toppled Mubarak had pushed far to appear in court for what they say are decades of abuse.
For four days since last Friday, protesters reoccupied parts of the Cairo Tahrir Square in the center and closed to traffic. The efforts of the army to evict Saturday resulted in at least one dead and dozens injured and raised tensions between protesters and the country's military rulers.
On Tuesday, a scuffle broke out when some residents tried to break the four-day sit-in, removing barbed wire and barricades. The army moved and took control of the square and sealed off the roundabout, once covered with grass that had been the focus of many demonstrations.
Mubarak has a history of minor ailments and underwent gallbladder surgery in Germany in March last year. It has kept a low profile since his ouster, living in his compound in Sharm el-Sheikh. Travel was banned and its assets have been frozen. Many of his top aides have been questioned or detained or pending investigations.
But on Sunday, Mubarak defended himself in a prerecorded message saying he had not abused his authority, and the researchers were welcome to check on their heritage.
It was his first speech to the people in the two months since his ouster. Shortly thereafter, the Attorney General issued a subpoena to appear Mubarak, for questioning.
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