Egyptian prosecutor allows for ex-dictator Mubarak's release

An Egyptian prosecutor has allowed for former dictator Hosni Mubarak to be released from detention after an appeals court acquitted him of involvement in the killing of hundreds of protesters during the 2011 revolution.

Mubarak's lawyer, Farid al-Deeb, confirmed on Monday that the ousted president, who has been in detention at a military hospital in Cairo, was now free to go home.

"He can go home now when the doctors decide he is able to," al-Deeb said.

The lawyer, however, noted that Mubarak is banned from leaving Egypt pending an ongoing graft investigation.

Egypt's top appeals court in early March acquitted Mubarak of involvement in the killing of protesters during an 18-day revolution which began in January 2011.

The former president was originally sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for conspiring to murder hundreds of demonstrators during the revolt that ended his nearly three-decade reign.

He was also found guilty of sowing chaos and creating a security vacuum.

However, an appeals court later overturned the verdict and ordered a retrial, citing technical flaws in the prosecution. 

The retrial resulted in dropping the case two years later, but the public prosecution appealed the decision and ordered another retrial by Egypt's top appeals court.

The latest ruling, on March 2, by Egypt's top appeals court - the Court of Cassation - is final.