Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak died Tuesday at age 91. 

A supporter of Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak holds a picture of the late leader near the family cemetary where he will be buried, in the Heliopolis neighbourhood in the capital Cairo, on February 26, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

The former president, who became frail after multiple surgeries towards the end of his life, spent years in custody for his role in the deaths of protesters, but was freed in 2017 after the convictions were overturned.

His son Alaa Mubarak wrote on Twitter: "This morning my father, president Mubarak, passed away".

His death was confirmed by the presidency and on state television. 

Mubarak's brother-in-law, General Mounir Thabet, told AFP that the family was by Mubarak's side at the hospital. 

A military funeral was planned for Wednesday, to be followed by three days of mourning, said the office of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

On Tuesday, at the cemetery in eastern Cairo where Mubarak will be buried, AFP reporters saw several military vehicles parked next to the family grave and plainclothes policemen patrolling the area.

Mubarak had long battled illness and was recently admitted to a Cairo military hospital's intensive care unit, as media speculated on whether he suffered cancer, heart troubles or respiratory ailments.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Mubarak's commitment to "peace and security" when he ruled Egypt, the first Arab state to make peace with Israel and establish full diplomatic relations.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said he mourned Mubarak's death "with great sorrow" and hailed his support of the Palestinian cause.