An Egyptian court ruled Wednesday to release former President Hosni Mubarak, ousted by popular uprisings in 2011 after 30 years of rule, Egyptian officials told Reuters and the Associated Press.
The ruling, passed in response to a petition from Mubarak's lawyer, does not spell out Mubarak's immediate release. He is likely to remain in prison an additional 48 hours from the ruling, and prosecutors can still appeal the release, Al Jazeera reports.
The 85-year-old was acquitted last week of charges of embezzling funds for the presidential palace. However, he still face charges of embezzling funds from Al Ahram, the state-run Egyptian paper.
Mubarak was previously sentenced to life in prison over the killing of protesters during the 2011 revolution, but his appeal was accepted and his retrial pending.
In Wednesday's ruling, the court removed the remaining legal grounds for keeping him locked up as he awaits upcoming trials.
His release comes as over 1,000 people have been killed in recent violence, largely at the hands of the Egyptian military and police forces. Critics charge that the ideals of the Egyptian revolution are being crushed as the country slides into Mubarak-era authoritarian rule once again.
_____________________
