Official statement on Hosni Mubarak's health soon: state TV

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Egypt's authorities will soon issue a statement on the health of Hosni Mubarak, state television said on Wednesday, after conflicting reports said the ex-president was clinically dead or in a coma.

'An official statement will be soon announced' on Mubarak's health, the state Nile TV reported. A member of the ruling military council also told AFP there would be a statement issued on Mubarak.

Egypt's state news agency had earlier reported that Mubarak was declared clinically dead on arrival at a military hospital from prison, where he was serving a life sentence.

But medical sources said he was in a coma and on an artificial respirator, an account confirmed by one of the ruling generals.

Mubarak was imprisoned on June 2 for failing to prevent the deaths of protesters during last year's uprising that ended his three-decade rule.

He suffers from a heart condition and high blood pressure, according to reports.