Mubarak, sons to face criminal charges

CAIRO, May 24 (UPI) -- Egypt's attorney general says former President Hosni Mubarak will face criminal charges related to the killing of protesters during the January revolution.

Abdel Meguid Mahmoud has also referred Mubarak, his two sons and an Egyptian businessman, Hussein Salem, for criminal prosecution on charges of squandering state funds and illegally gaining financial benefits for themselves and for others, al-Masry al-Youm reported Tuesday.

In a statement, Mahmoud alleged Mubarak was involved, along with former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and some senior police officers, in the killing and attempted murder of peaceful protesters in various parts of the country since Jan. 25.

Mubarak also exploited his influence to gain illegal benefits for himself and his two sons, Gamal and Alaa Mubarak, Mahmoud said, and also allegedly allowed Salem to seize hundreds of thousands of acres of state-owned land in prestigious tourist areas in the coastal city of Sharm el-Sheik on the Red Sea.

Prosecutors allege Mubarak was involved in enabling Salem to obtain illegal financial benefits exceeding $2 billion by assigning contracts to sell Egyptian natural gas to Israel at low prices to Salem's company.