Mubarak leaves prison, is placed under house arrest

Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, ousted in a 2011 revolt and subsequently arrested, has been freed from prison and placed under house arrest.

The former dictator was charged with multiple crimes, including embezzlement and the mass killing of civilian protesters.

But the Egyptian military has deposed Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood-backed president who replaced Mubarak, and on Tuesday a Cairo court ordered Mubarak be released from pretrial detention until a new case can be brought against him.

The legal limit for pretrial confinement has been reached, and so by law Mubarak cannot be held.

Although one case against him has been heard, Mubarak's conviction and sentence to life in prison was overturned on appeal. He remained in prison pending other cases.

Mubarak left prison by military helicopter Thursday and has been transported to a military hospital. He will be placed under house arrest. Mubarak is due back in court August 25 to face charges of ordering the deaths of protesters.