Mubarak's health, morale failing

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CAIRO, June 13 (UPI) -- Ex-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is in poor health and his morale has deteriorated despite his sons being moved to the same prison ward, officials said.

Mubarak, 84, was sent to Tora prison, about 14 miles from Cairo, after being sentenced to 25 years behind bars, effectively a life sentence, in the deaths of protesters during the January 2011 uprising that forced him to step down. His sons, Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, are awaiting trial on finance-related charges.

A medical team sent to examine Mubarak in Tora's intensive care unit Tuesday said he was having trouble breathing, resulting in repeated blackouts that require him to be on a respirator, London-based Asharq al-Awsat reported Wednesday.

The medical team also said Mubarak has high blood pressure and a heart arrhythmia, but doesn't need to be transferred to another medical facility as requested by Mubarak's lawyer and wife.

Mubarak's lawyer, Farid al-Deeb, said the Tora prison hospital isn't equipped to handle the former president, al-Masry al-Youm reported. Al-Deeb also said medical reports didn't support Mubarak's transfer to the prison.

A state medical official said the Tora hospital facility was capable of meeting Mubarak's medical needs and that the former ruler was receiving quality and expensive medical care.