Egyptian Justice Minister says ousted president could be executed if convicted of involvement in anti-government protesters’ deaths

Egyptian Justice Minister Abdel Aziz al-Gindi was quoted on Saturday as saying that Egypt's ousted president Hosni Mubarak could be executed if convicted of involvement in the deaths of anti-regime protesters.

Mubarak, who was toppled in February after mass protests, is under detention on suspicion of involvement in the deaths of more than 800 people.

"Absolutely, the crime of killing protesters could lead to a death sentence if there is convincing evidence," the justice minister told Egyptian daily Al-Ahram in response to a question on whether Mubarak might be executed.

The 82-year-old former strongman is in police custody in a hospital in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, after reportedly suffering a heart attack during questioning.

Earlier this month, the head of Cairo's appeals court, Zakaria Shalash, said Mubarak may face execution after a trial he expected to last at least a year. He said testimony by Mubarak's former interior minister Habib al-Adly, himself on trial for ordering the shootings of anti-regime protesters, would make Mubarak an accomplice if proven.