Mubarak could be executed if convicted: minister

Egypt's ousted president Hosni Mubarak could be executed if convicted of involvement in the deaths anti-regime protesters, the justice minister was quoted on Saturday as saying.

Mubarak, who was toppled in February after mass protests, is under detention on suspicion of involvement in the deaths of more than 800 people.

"Absolutely, the crime of killing protesters could lead to a death sentence if there is convincing evidence," Abdel Aziz al-Gindi told Al-Ahram newspaper in response to a question on whether Mubarak might be executed.

The 82-year-old former strongman is in police custody in a hospital in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, after reportedly suffering a heart attack during questioning.

Earlier this month, the head of Cairo's appeals court, Zakaria Shalash, said Mubarak may face execution after a trial he expected to last at least a year.

Shalash said testimony by Mubarak's former interior minister Habib al-Adly, himself is on trial for ordering the shootings of anti-regime protesters, would make Mubarak an accomplice if proven.

Adly said he was ordered to use violence against protesters by the former leader.

At least 846 were killed in the protests.

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