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A military helicopter, carrying Egypt's ex-president Hosni Mubarak, arrived in the Maadi Military Hospital in the capital Cairo from Tora prison on Thursday.
Earlier, the Egyptian judicial authorities ordered the prison to release Mubarak as his lawyer argued Mubarak's stay in prison had exceeded the maximum pre-verdict detention and that Mubarak had made financial amends for his corruption cases.
In light of the state of emergency, interim Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi, the deputy military ruler, ordered to place Mubarak under house arrest to avoid more complexity in the politically divided country.
According to Egypt's official news agency MENA, Mubarak chose to spend his period of house arrest in the Maadi Military Hospital, which is located in Maddi district in Cairo.
"Mubarak was transferred to the Maadi Military Hospital upon his personal request," MENA quoted General Moustafa Bazz, assistant to interior minister for the prisons department sector, as saying.
The 85-year-old Mubarak is banned from travelling abroad as he still faces a retrial on charges of involvement in the killing of protesters during the 2011 unrest that eventually toppled him. The next hearing is slated for Sunday.
The decision to grant Mubarak pre-trial release added a new volatile factor to the political turmoil that has gripped Egypt.
Supporters of Mubarak hold posters to celebrate his release and join other supporters as they shouted slogans against ousted President Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood in front of the Maadi Military Hospital.
As for Mubarak's release, the U.S. government said "it was a matter for Cairo to decide, but called for his ousted successor Mohamed Morsi to be freed."
Morsi, who was democratically elected last year, was ousted by the army on July 3 following massive protests against him.
More than 1,000 people have been killed in the unprecedented violent clashes since the security forces dispersed two major pro-Morsi sit-ins in the country a week ago.
