Egypt court orders freeze of steel tycoon's assets- agency

Cairo court has issued an order to freeze all assets of Egyptian steel magnate Ahmed Ezz, a close associate of ousted President Hosni Mubarak who is also being investigated for graft, state news agency MENA reported on Saturday.

'Supported by the Cairo Criminal Court...a decision has been approved to freeze all funds and property of businessman Ahmed Ezz,' said the MENA report.

Ezz, who quit his senior role in Mubarak's National Democratic Party during anti-government protests that unseated the president in February, has been detained since Feb. 17 pending his trial on suspicion of wasting public funds.