Mubarak to apologize to Egypt

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CAIRO, May 17 (UPI) -- Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is expected to apologize to the Egyptian people on state television and plead for amnesty, officials said.

The Egyptian daily al-Shourok quoted unnamed Egyptian officials Tuesday as saying the deposed president will apologize for causing harm to the nation while professing he received faulty information from some of his advisers, Ahram Online reported.

The purpose of the speech is to ask the Supreme Council of Armed Forces for amnesty and avoid trial, the Web site said.

The speech was being prepared and would be aired on several Egyptian and Arab channels, the site said.

In his speech, Mubarak is expected to express willingness to return most of the wealth he amassed to the country and say while he never expected to serve as president, he did his utmost, along with his wife Suzanne, to perform his duties.

The former president is also expected to stress he served in the country's armed forces and fought to protect Egypt in the 1973 war against Israel.

On Monday, the former first lady told prosecutors she would return $3 million in assets to Egypt, al-Arabiya reported.

The network said there was speculation that due to her offer, she may evade prosecution but noted the true value of her assets was questioned.