Mubarak and democracy on life support in Egypt

It is unclear at this time if Hosni Mubarak, the jailed former president of Egypt is alive or dead. Yesterday, reports were issued on state-run media and across the region that Mubarak was dead, but now officials including a top military general and a lawyer for the ousted president say he is alive, but in a coma. 

CAIRO, EGYPT (Catholic Online) - The 84-year-old Mubarak spent 30 years ruling Egypt until he was forced from power last year for his failure to stop the killing of Arab Spring protesters. After his ouster, the military took control of the country and elections were scheduled. And Mubarak was put on trial. 

That trial recently ended with a life sentence for the disgraced president. 

However, barely days into the sentence, Mubarak was transferred to a military hospital for failing health. Mubarak is now reportedly in one of the country's finest hospitals nestled in greenery along the banks of the Nile, hardly a prison.

Mubarak's opponents have accused the transfer of being a ruse to get the convicted Mubarak out from behind bars so he may serve his sentence in comfortable surroundings. 

Now, doctors say that Mubarak is alive, but his condition is improving slowly and that he remains on life support in an intensive care unit. 

Meanwhile, the Egyptian people seem poised to repeat some of the tumult of last year. The country's first series of free elections has been marred by controversy with the Muslim Brotherhood claiming victory and the former prime minister under Mubarak disputing the results. 

The elections committee is working to resolve complaints into fraud and the final tally. 

Ultimately, it does not appear that it's just Mubarak on life support, but rather the whole of democracy in Egypt. With the military still firmly ensconced in power and the people divided more sharply than ever, it is an uncertain thing if democracy will follow in the wake of Mubarak's collapse, or if Egypt is in for more chaos and disruption. 

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