Al Jazeera's Rawya Rageh reports from Cairo:

Hosni Mubarak, we understand, is currently in an intensive care unit on life support with his wife by his side. This comes after earlier reports had said his heart had failed and had to be resuscitated and that he had suffered from a stroke. Many Egyptians are skeptical about these reports because for more than a year now Hosni Mubarak has been portrayed as in poor health.

He showed up to his trial on a hospital stretcher and many people have been wondering whether the former president is in poor health or whether perhaps the generals in charge of the country are simply trying to ensure more comfortable confinement for him and trying to justify his transfer from the prison hospital to a better medical facility.

The timing is of essence, many saying the generals are seizing the opportunity of the current political turmoil to make this move. Others say it could be an attempt to distract public opinion after mounting pressure, after street protests against the ruling military generals following the recent expansion of powers, the recent constitutional declaration that is being perceived by some as a last minute power-grab before the generals hand over power to an elected president later this month.