Hosni Mubarak faces death if convicted of ordering shooting: Minister

Toppled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak could face execution if convicted of ordering the shooting of protesters during the uprisings that led to his downfall, the nation's new justice minister said today.

The ousted president now under detention is currently in a hospital suffering from heart aliment and there is speculation that he may be soon moved to a prison hospital.

Justice Minister Mohammed el-Guindi said if charges were proved that Mubarak had ordered the firing on protesters he would face death sentence, the daily Al-Ahram reported.

The justice minister's comments comes as former interior minister Habib al-Adly reportedly told a Cairo court that he had ordered the shootings on protesters on orders of Mubarak.

El-Guindi also said the former Egyptian strongman, his two sons and wife are also facing allegations of corruption.

Former first lady Suzanne Mubarak will also be probed, he said.

On February 11, 82-year-old Mubarak stepped down after 18 days of sustained protests. At least 846 protesters were killed during the uprising.

"Certainly, if convicted for the crime of killing protesters, it could result in the death sentence," el-Guindi said, adding the key to the case was whether el-Adly would testify that Mubarak had given the order to open fire on the protesters.

"The only one capable of pardoning Mubarak... would be the new president. If I were the president, I will not pardon him for killing 800 martyrs," said el-Guindi.