Report says Mubarak may retire soon

JERUSALEM, July 8 (UPI) -- Following a visit to Cairo by Israel's president, Israeli officials say Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is likely to retire and name his younger son successor.

Quoting unnamed government officials in the wake of Shimon Peres's visit, the Israeli newspaper Maariv reported Wednesday the 81-year-old Egyptian president appears to be encountering personal difficulties brought on by the sudden death of his 12-year-old grandson two months ago.

"Lately, Mubarak appears weak, his speech has slowed down and his public appearances appear to be forced. He functions well, but his condition is worrying. It is not the same Mubarak, " the newspaper quoted one official as saying.

The officials estimate Mubarak will retire from political life and name his younger son, Gamal El Deen Muhammed Hosni Sayed Mubarak, as the country's next president. Mubarek's older son Alaa is a businessman who has not taken an active role in Egyptian politics.

The officials said they believe the Egyptian president would prefer to hand over the reins of the country to resist opposition to his son among the Egyptian security establishment, the newspaper said.

Mubarak became president in 1981 following the assassination of President Anwar Sadat. The longest-serving president since the end of Egypt's monarchy in the 1950s, Mubarak was re-elected by referendums in 1987, 1993 and 1999 when constitutional restrictions did not allow opposition candidates. He was given another term in 2005 after ushering through a constitutional amendment allowing parties to run candidates against a sitting president but elections remain tightly controlled by the government and ruling party.