Mubarak's German doctor receives threatening letters

A doctor from the German city of Heidelberg, who had been treating Egyptian ex-president Hosni Mubarak, has received letters with murder threats if he continues to treat the ousted leader, Egypt's Almasry Alyoum newspaper quoted Mubarak's lawyer, Farid al-Deeb, as saying. "We will stab you if you come to treat Mubarak. Leave Mubarak to his own fate. He should pay for his deeds," the anonymous letters said. In March 2010, German doctors removed parts of Mubarak's pancreas, gall bladder and a growth on his small intestine. In late June, the doctors diagnosed Mubarak with stomach cancer. Egypt's chief prosecutor allowed the German specialists to come to treat the ousted leader. The visit however failed. Al-Deeb told the paper that the German specialist did not come because of the threats. He was replaced by an Egyptian oncologist. Mubarak is facing trial and is being investigated over the deaths of hundreds of protesters during the 18-day popular uprising that forced him from power in February. He is also under scrutiny for alleged abuse of power during his 30-year rule, including gas exports to Israel at a low price in a secretive deal that reportedly cost Egypt $714 million. During his first trial in Cairo on August 3, Mubarak was carried to the court room on a stretcher. He pleaded not guilty to the crimes he is accused of.