Egypt has detained three former ministers of interior, tourism and housing and a tycoon from the ex-President Hosni Mubarak's National Democratic Party (NDP) on suspicion of wasting public funds, the country's state-run MENA news agency said.
Former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly, former Housing Minister Ahmed el-Maghrabi and ex-Tourism Minister Zuheir Garana and steel magnate Ahmed Ezz, a former senior NDP member, will spend 15 days in custody until the investigation is completed, the news agency said, quoting a judicial source.
The four detainees have denied any wrongdoing, the Al Arabiya TV channel said.
Prosecutors filed formal charges against Maghrabi, Garana and former trade and industry minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid last Thursday, a day before Mubarak stepped down following 18 days of large-scale anti-government protests.
The country's military council has also announced a travel ban on 43 members from the current and former government, Al Arabiya said.
At least 300 people were killed and some 5,000 injured in the anti-government protests in Egypt that put an end to Mubarak's 30-year rule. The military council, which took power in the country as Mubarak resigned, has dissolved the government and parliament and pledged to hold democratic elections in September.
CAIRO, February 18 (RIA Novosti)
