Mubarak… ‘Victim’ of Smear Campaign!

Egypt's former leader Hosni Mubarak complained he has been the victim of a smear campaign, in his first comments aired Sunday since he was ousted in February by a popular uprising.

The former president’s statement was broadcast on the pan-Arab news network Al-Arabiya as pressure mounted on the ruling military to put him on trial for alleged corruption and other crimes.

Mubarak, who has been under house arrest since resigning on February 11, claimed he was prepared to assist any investigations into his family's alleged assets abroad.

He said that both he and his family were the victims of what he called “unjust campaigns and false claims” that seek to ruin his reputation and challenge his integrity and his... military and political history.

Mubarak said he was prepared to assist the public prosecutor to ask the foreign ministry of Egypt to communicate with all foreign ministries in the world asking them to reveal their assets abroad.

The 82-year-old, who has been based in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh since his ouster, criticized the media for reporting that he had "large properties" abroad, and denied he had foreign bank accounts.

"I reserve my legal rights toward whoever tried to ruin me and my family's reputation," he said in the audio message broadcast on Al-Arabiya.

The military has announced the appointment of a panel to investigate the former president, but it has been criticized for delays in holding him and other former regime officials accountable.

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