Egypt's general Abdel-Hakim Amer
The death of Abdel-Hakim Amer, a key figure in the 1952 Free Officers Coup, has been sent for investigation by the military prosecutor.
Prosecutor-General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud made the decision on Thursday after a case was filed by Amer's family members who believe he was murdered. The regime of Gamal Abdel-Nasser announced at the time of Amer's death in 1967 that he had committed suicide.
Judge Adel El-Saeed, deputy prosecutor-general, said all documents related to the case had been sent to the military prosecutor.
Amer commanded the Egyptian Army during the Suez Crisis, the North Yemen Civil War and the 1967 War.
The death of Amer is controversial. In one version of the story it is said he committed suicide by swallowing poison after Egypt's defeat in the 1967 War. Another version says he was approached in his cell by high ranking Egyptian officers and given the choice to remain there and stand trial for treason, or die by taking poison, and he chose to take poison and die with honour.
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