An Egyptian court on Wednesday ordered the release of Hosni Mubarak, imprisoned for several months while awaiting trial on a charge of corruption.
The former dictator has been in jail the maximum amount of time allowed, it said, but his release could be delayed at least until Thursday if the prosecution appeals.
Mubarak has been cleared on one charge of corruption, but a trial on a second charge has not yet been concluded. He formerly was sentenced to life in jail for involvement in the murder or more than 800 protesters in the demonstrations in 2011, but a court accepted his appeal and ordered a re-trial.