THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president, is to make a public apology for abuse of power and offer to hand back his wealth in a bid to win an amnesty from the country's new rulers, according to reports.Mr Mubarak has offered to read a statement on state television apologising for "misconduct" arising from listening to poor advice, the Shorouk newspaper said.
Indications that this was part of a plea bargain were strengthened when the justice ministry released Mr Mubarak's wife, Suzanne, from custody, after she handed investigators power of attorney to clear out her bank account of £2 million and take possession of a house in Cairo.
Under Egyptian law, prosecutors can waive charges for financial crimes if the money involved is restored.
Mrs Mubarak, 70, joined her husband under arrest in a hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, where they have been living since he was forced from office in February, on Friday. It was feared she had suffered a heart attack after suffering chest pains during interrogation.
The report in Shorouk claimed that the attempt to forge a deal to avoid the Mubaraks being jailed was mediated by "other Arab and Gulf states". Saudi Arabia, one of Mr Mubarak's principal backers in his 30 years in power, was known to be furious that he was ousted from office. » | Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Tuesday, May 17, 2011
