Egypt holds military funeral of ex-president Mubarak

ISTANBUL (AA) - Egypt on Wednesday held a military funeral for its longest-serving former President Hosni Mubarak.

The country's state-run TV network aired the event, including a funeral prayer held in eastern Cairo attended by family members and former officials of Mubarak's regime.

Incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi was also present, as well as senior officials including Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Coptic Pope Tawadros II and Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Cairo-based Al-Azhar, the highest seat of learning in the Sunni Muslim world.

The Egyptian presidency announced in a statement a three-day period of mourning starting on Wednesday.

Mubarak's body will be transferred by helicopter for burial in his family's cemetery in eastern Cairo.

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates announced they would raise their flags at half-mast for one day in mourning of Mubarak's death.

Mubarak assumed the presidency of Egypt for nearly thirty years, before being overthrown in a 18-day uprising in 2011. Around 841 protestors were killed and thousands were injured during the uprising. He died on Tuesday at the age of 91.