Mubarak gives Sisi his support

Ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak always said that ruling Egypt was "no picnic".

So it's no real surprise the current ruler, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has the former president's sympathy.

"Our national security is unstable, and we are facing great challenges," Mubarak told an Egyptian TV channel.

"Egypt is under good, patriotic and wise leadership, and the Egyptian people should support it - because no president can work alone," he said in a phone interview with Sada al-Balad.

"I am generally optimistic, even in the darkest times, and I have confidence in the wisdom of President Sisi," he continued.

Mubarak used the interview as an opportunity to criticise political Islam.

The Muslim Brotherhood became the first party to be elected in free and fair elections, following the overthrow of Mubarak. It in turn was deposed by Sisi.

"[The Brotherhood] wanted to take over power in Egypt following the assassination of late President Anwar al-Sadat, but we thwarted their plots," Mubarak continued.

Ahmed Suleiman, a former justice minister, has criticised the way the regime has given Mubarak an easier time in prison than fellow Brotherhood inmates.

"While ousted President Mohammad Morsi and prisoners in pre-trial detention were deprived of food, Mubarak was speaking to the media and receiving Arab and foreign delegations in his five-star residence in the Maadi military hospital," he said.

A political analyst, who did not want to be named for fear of violent reprisals, said the preferential treatment that Mubarak had received in prison suggested that he and the military leadership worked together to bring down the revolution.

"The military council was the general leader of the counter-revolution in Egypt," he told al-Araby.

"Everyone was surprised how Mubarak gave up power so easily in 2011, but it later became clear that there was a deal between him and the army," he said. 

"The military council protected Mubarak in return for handing over power," he alleged.