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Ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak 'close to death'
Protesters in Tahrir Square are closely following reports of Mubarak's deathThere are conflicting reports about the health of ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak.
Some media reports say he is clinically dead, but Nile TV said attempts were continuing to revive him.
The 84-year-old is said to have had a stroke, and was moved from prison to life support in an army hospital.
Mubarak was removed in last year's uprising, and jailed earlier this month for his role in the death of protesters before his removal.
There have been frequent reports since then that his health has deteriorated, many of which have proved wrong.
The news comes as tens of thousands of people protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square against a move by the ruling military council to assume new powers.
The BBC's Lyse Doucet, who is in the square, says the crowds are following the news reports closely.
The rally was called by the Muslim Brotherhood, which is also claiming victory for its candidate Mohammed Mursi in last weekend's presidential elections.
His rival Ahmed Shafiq, a former prime minister under Mr Mubarak, has also said he has won.
Results are expected to be announced on Thursday.
The Muslim Brotherhood has also vowed to retry Mubarak once in power, and insists that he should face the death penalty.
As Egyptians voted, the generals dissolved parliament and claimed all legislative power for themselves.
Activists have described the moves as a "military coup".
ScepticismMubarak was admitted to intensive care at the Maadi armed forces hospital after suffering a stroke, state media said.
Correspondents say the hospital is better equipped to deal with such conditions than the prison hospital where he was being treated.
The former leader is now said to be unconscious and on life support.
Doctors are said to have used a defibrillator on him several times. The device delivers an electric shock to the heart to try to re-establish a normal heartbeat.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says Egyptians will be very sceptical about any reports about the former president's health, which have often proved wrong in the past, and sometimes have an ulterior motive.
But these reports are better sourced than any before, he says.
