CAIRO: An Egyptian panel formed to uncover illicit gains acquired during the rule of deposed President Hosni Mubarak, will next week question his younger son about corruption, the state news agency said on Tuesday. The agency did not say where Gamal, once seen as a leading candidate to take over from his father, would be questioned by the panel, which was set up last week as part of an anti-graft campaign targeting figures from Mubarak's era. Gamal Mubarak held a leading post in Egypt's former ruling party. A widely- held belief that he was being groomed for the presidency helped galvanize opposition that toppled him. The ruling military council to which Mubarak handed power has faced calls for tougher measures against figures from his administration. Reformists have also demanded steps to recover former officials' assets frozen by foreign governments. The hearing will be chaired by Essam El-Gawahri, a senior justice ministry official who heads the panel. On Friday, thousands of Egyptians demonstrated in central Cairo demanding that Mubarak and his top officials be put on trial and accusing them of corruption and illegal profiteering. Egypt's new rulers have appeared to respond to demands for tougher steps against former Mubarak officials. Last week, three senior figures from his era were banned from travel. The ill-gotten gains panel also decided on Monday to freeze the assets of the three: Fathi Sorour, Safwat El-Sherif and Zakaria Azmy.
