Egyptian general prsecutor summons Mubarak, his sons

Cairo - Egyptian Attorney General Abdel- Meguid Mahmoud decided Sunday to question former President Hosni Mubarak and his two sons over accusations about the use of violence against protestors during the anti-government demonstrations, local media reported.

Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, will also be questioned over alleged corruption by using their influence to seize public funds and get commissions from different deals, official MENA news agency said.

Mubarak defended himself and his family and denied the accusations in a recorded audio speech aired by pan-Arab Al- Arabiya TV on Sunday.

"I strongly pained regarding unfair campaigns and baseless accusations targeting my reputation and history," he said.

This is the first public statement of Mubarak since he resigned on Feb. 11 after 18 days of protests against his 29-year rule.

He said he agreed to the top prosecutor`s request for Egypt`s Foreign Ministry to inquire about his assets abroad through diplomatic means.

Mubarak denied that he had used his power to accumulate big wealth.

"I have kept silent for the past few weeks against all campaigns and false claims aimed at defaming my reputation and trials to badly affect me and my family`s integrity until the general prosecutor gets all the reports from countries abroad and reveal the truth," said Mubarak.

He added neither Alaa nor Gamal`s wealth was gained by exploiting their influence or through illegal profiteering.

"I reserve my legal rights towards those who tried to ruin my and my family`s reputation," he said.

Mubarak, his wife Suzanne, his two sons and their wives have been banned from traveling abroad and their assets have been frozen.

Various reports about the wealth of Mubarak and his family have come out during and after the protests. Corruption allegation against Mubarak and his aides was one of the major causes of the protests, in addition to high unemployment rate and rising food prices in the country.

At least 384 people were killed and thousands were injured in the protests which began on Jan. 25.

Mubarak handed over power to the military on Feb. 11 and has been living in Sharm el-Sheikh under military guard.

Youth groups and activists in Egypt have been calling for the trial of Mubarak and his aides. They organized a mass protest on Friday in central Cairo`s Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the previous protests, to press on the military to try the former president immediately.