'Mubarak's health declining; family refusing treatment'

Egyptian official tells 'a-Sharq' that deposed Egyptian leader may be in a coma; ambassador to US says "might" be in "somewhat bad health."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak 311 AP (photo credit: AP)
Deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak 311 AP
(photo credit: AP)
Deposed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's "health is deteriorating drastically," an Egyptian security official told London-based Arabic language newspaper a-Sharq al-Awsat on Tuesday.
The source added that those around Mubarak were refusing attempts to bring him abroad - most likely to Germany - to receive medical care and that attempts to do so have been rebuffed by those around him who wish to honor his desire to "let him die in his country." "I think it's only a matter of time," he said. It is "unfortunate that [it] ends up this way."
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Another Egyptian official told the paper that the octogenarian former dictator is in "what seems to be an almost complete coma." In light of his condition, the official denied rumors Mubarak was working to write his memoirs.
The latest report came a day after Egyptian Ambassador to Washington Sameh Shoukry said Mubarak may be in poor condition.
He denied receiving any official information about the deposed leader's health to NBC's The Today Show on Monday. Shoukry did, however, add that he "might have received some communication at a personal level indicating that he is possibly in somewhat of bad health."
Another report Monday also said Mubarak has been in a coma since Saturday and that it was rumored the former leader fainted twice during his defiant final speech last Thursday.