Egypt’s state prosecutor decided yesterday to move ailing ex-president Hosni Mubarak to a military hospital, then to prison when his health improves, in a probe over a deadly crackdown on protesters that could send him to the gallows, state media reported.

Mr Mubarak and his sons Gamal and Alaa were remanded in custody this week on suspicion of involvement in the deaths of protesters during the 18-day protest that forced him to resign in February.

If convicted on the most serious charges, he could face life in prison or execution by hanging, a senior judge has said.

Prosecutor Abdel Maguid Mahmud “decided to transfer the former President Hosni Mubarak to one of the military hospitals”, from one in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he has been living since his ouster, state news agency Mena reported.

Mr Mubarak would be placed under the “necessary security”.

Mena added that Mr Mubarak would remain “under preventive custody according to prison laws with the obligation of informing the state prosecution as soon his health improves and the opportunity arises to move him to a prison”.

Mr Mubarak suffered a heart attack on Tuesday during questioning by prosecutors over his alleged involvement in the deaths of protesters and was placed in intensive care. By Thursday, Mena said, his condition was stable.