CAIRO: Egyptian officials have released former dictator Hosni Mubarak from prison and will keep a close watch on the ailing man as he enters house arrest, military sources confirmed to Bikyanews.com on Thursday. The release has sparked international headlines, but those on the ground say the move will likely do little to affect the ongoing violent situation on the ground between security forces and the Muslim Brotherhood, which has seen some 1,000 people killed in the past 8 days. Mubarak, in detention since April 2011, was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison last year for failing to stop the killing of some 900 protesters in Egypt's 2011 uprising. His sentence was overturned on appeal and he is now being retried, along with his security chief and six top police commanders. He is facing a number of other corruption charges. Judicial officials had ordered Mubarak's release pending trials. His lawyers have argued that he should be let go after Wednesday's hearing into charges of having received gifts from the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper — the last case that has kept him in detention. Activists tell Bikyanews.com that they believe that a new trial will be had and the former president will not remain free for long. "I don't think the country would allow him to go free after all he has done to this country," said one activist. BN
