Egypt Court Orders Release Of Mubarak

An Egyptian court ordered Wednesday the release of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, but it is not yet clear if the ailing ex-leader will walk free after over two years in detention, officials said.

Prosecutors may appeal the order, which comes following a hearing on charges against Mubarak of accepting gifts from a state-owned newspaper, the last case that has kept him in detention. It is not known if they will file they appeal.

The possibility of Mubarak going free is likely to fuel the unrest already roiling the country after the autocratic leader's successor, Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, was removed in a military coup last month.

Meantime, European Union foreign ministers are "strongly condemning" the recent violence in Egypt but stopping short of halting aid programs for fear of hitting ordinary citizens.

Clashes between Egyptian security forces and supporters of deposed President Mohammed Morsi have killed hundreds of people since last week.