Mubarak says Egyptians should support Morsi

Toppled president Hosni Mubarak, awaiting trial over his role in the deaths of protesters, believes Egyptians should rally around his Islamist successor and end violent protests, his lawyer says.

CAIRO // Toppled president Hosni Mubarak, awaiting trial over his role in the deaths of protesters, believes Egyptians should rally around his Islamist successor and end violent protests, his lawyer said yesterday.

President Mohammed Morsi, twice jailed by Mubarak before he himself was overthrown on February 11, 2011, is the "elected president, people should rally around him", he told his lawyer, Farid El Deeb.

"Mubarak is sad and frustrated" by recurring violent protests targeting the Islamist president, Mr El Deeb said.

Mubarak, 84, had been sentenced to life in prison for his role in the deaths of protesters during the 18-day uprising in 2011 that ended his three decade reign.

But a court overthrew that verdict and ordered a new trial which is set to start on April 13.

Mubarak also spoke out against violent protests, although he believed Egyptians have the right to peaceful demonstrations, Mr El Deeb said.

"He still considers those who attacked police stations in 2011 were thugs and criminals," Mr El Deeb added, referring to protesters who torched police stations across the country during the 2011 revolt.

Roughly 850 people were killed in the uprising.