Gamal Mubarak pressured father to go

CAIRO, April 28 (UPI) -- The son of deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told investigators he told his father to resign at the height of the February revolution.

Pro-reform demonstrators occupied Tahrir Square in Cairo for several weeks early this year. Heightened public pressure forced Mubarak to step down Feb. 11 after serving three decades as president.

Mubarak and his two sons, Gamal and Alaa, are under investigation for corruption and for allegedly ordering attacks on unarmed protesters during the revolution.

Gamal Mubarak told interrogators that he advised his father to respect the will of the people and step aside, though Hosni Mubarak said he feared his resignation would result in chaos in Egypt, Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm reports.

Gamal Mubarak added that he was considering a run for the presidency last year but as a politician not an heir, the newspaper adds.

Cairo spent much of July deflecting claims that Hosni Mubarak's health was failing. He had his gall bladder removed early last year and was reportedly grooming Gamal Mubarak to take over the job.