Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and two of his sons were detained by the authorities as they investigated the killing of protesters during the popular uprising that led to the toppling of the government two months ago.
As the news spread quickly across the country, Egyptians were pleased, if not downright celebratory.
Mubarak and his sons Gamal and Alaa have been detained for 15 days in connection to the killing of protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square, according to Ahmed Hemeida with the Justice Ministry. The square was a popular gathering spot for those opposed to the Mubarak government.
The younger Mubaraks have been transferred to Cairo's Tora Prison, Hemeida said.
The developments came a day after the former president was admitted to a hospital after complaining to his doctor that he felt unwell, according to a spokesman for the Egyptian military.
The story dominated discussion in Egypt on Wednesday.
One smiling taxi driver stopped in Cairo traffic, crossed his wrists in front of himself as if he was handcuffed and yelled "Mubarak 'cuffed!'" in Arabic to strangers.
There are conflicting reports about Mubarak's whereabouts.
Mubarak remained at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Hospital and is in "unstable" condition, the state-run MENA news agency reported Wednesday, citing a medical source.
But Alla Mahmood, an Interior Ministry spokesman, told that Mubarak was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Cairo Wednesday.
State TV reported that Mubarak is suffering from a "nervous breakdown" and might be transferred to a hospital in Cairo.
Egyptian state television reported Mubarak suffered a heart attack during questioning over possible corruption charges. Justice Minister Mohammed Abdul Aziz Al-Gindi said the prosecutor's office had started its investigation of the former president, the official Egyptian news agency reported
Egypt's health minister, Ashraf Hatem, later said that Mubarak's condition was stable enough to allow prosecutors to resume questioning at the hospital, according to the state-owned Al Ahram newspaper.
Mubarak and his family are believed to have been living on his estate in the Red Sea resort since February 11, when he stepped down and handed power to the military.
The hospitalization comes two days after Egypt's chief prosecutor summoned Mubarak for questioning on corruption charges. Mubarak immediately decried the accusations, saying the probe is aimed at tarnishing his reputation and that of his family.
In a brief audio message aired Sunday, Mubarak promised he and his family would account for everything they own. He said he agreed to allow the prosecutor to contact governments around the world to take "proper legal steps" to reveal whether he or his family own any property or real estate outside Egypt.
Mubarak was brought to Cairo for questioning last month, and Egypt's attorney general issued an order to freeze the assets of Mubarak and his family, and prohibited them from leaving the country.
Mubarak had back surgery in Germany in 2004 and returned there in 2010 to have his gall bladder removed. He had largely withdrawn from public view in recent years, until this year's uprising prompted him to make televised speeches.
Mubarak ruled Egypt for nearly three decades. His regime was toppled by a groundswell of popular protests that began January 25.
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