Hosni Mubarak has asked Egypt's ruling generals to keep him in Sharm el-Sheikh despite an order to leave, army sources said, a further sign of the deposed president's resistance to facing trial.
Army sources said Mr Mubarak (82) wants to remain in hospital in the Red Sea resort, where he took refuge after pro-democracy protests ousted him from power in February.
"Mubarak put in a request to the military council," an army source said, referring to the generals who took over from their former commander-in-chief. "He hopes they'll listen."
Mr Mubarak was admitted to hospital with an unspecified illness the day the prosecutor ordered him detained for questioning on corruption and murder allegations. He denies wrongdoing.
The former president's sons, Gamal and Alaa, were also ordered detained on similar charges on the same day, and are now in prison in Cairo along with several other senior officials.
Security sources say Mr Mubarak fears suffering the same fate, and is worried a move out of Sharm el-Sheikh would only hasten his imprisonment.
Moving him to Cairo would also pose a security challenge to the army, which is worried his presence in the capital would reignite protests. "It is quite believable those in power do not want to rush the former president to trial right away," a security official said earlier this week. "Mubarak will be transferred when the time is right, and that is unlikely to be soon."
Prosecuting Mr Mubarak was one of the key demands of the protesters who swept him out of office, and who only stopped challenging the military authorities and staging demonstrations after he was ordered into detention.
The prosecutor has since detained Mr Mubarak's former prime minister and disbanded his long-ruling National Democratic Party - all steps aimed at showing Egyptians the military is not collaborating with the former administration.
The army rulers appear to be taking a softer line when it comes to Mr Mubarak, although security sources say he will, eventually, face justice.
Reuters