Egyptian authorities order arrest of former PM

Shafiq, a longtime friend of Mubarak who was the runner-up in Egypt's presidential election in June to the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi, is currently living in the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier, Egypt's prosecutor general referred Shafiq to a criminal court on corruption charges related to his decision as minister of aviation to sell land owned by the ministry to Mubarak's two sons Gamal and Alaa at a very low price.

Shafiq has repeatedly denied corruption allegation.

Gamal and Alaa are in custody and on trial in a separate case on charges of insider trading.

Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for almost three decades until his ouster last February, is serving a life sentence for failing to prevent the killing of protesters during the 18-day uprising that forced him to step down.