Egyptian ex-official in UAE as probe opens

CAIRO -- Ahmed Shafiq, Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister and loser of the presidential runoff, left Egypt yesterday with most of his family for the United Arab Emirates hours after the prosecutor general opened an investigation into allegations he wasted public funds during his eight-year term as a civil aviation minister in the ousted regime.

An airport official said Shafiq flew to Abu Dhabi at dawn with two of his three daughters and three grandchildren. His campaign told the daily al-Masry al-Youm that he will return after a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, then to start a new political party. The UAE has offered a haven to other members of Mubarak's old regime. -- AP