COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Special series ... The Family ... In a tale of politics, power and greed, this two-part series examines the Mubarak family.

As Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president, lies on his deathbed, The Family offers a fresh perspective on the history and inner workings of the man, his wife and his family.

The story of Hosni Mubarak - along with his wife Suzanne and their two sons - is a tale of politics, power, ambition and greed.

It is a story of a humble birth and a rise through the ranks of the Egyptian air force, culminating in a 30-year reign over the fulcrum of the Arab world - all set against the backdrop of a tumultuous region.

The first of these two-hour documentaries shows Mubarak as the unassuming and loyal lieutenant of Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar al-Sadat who found himself thrust into the top job - brought to power by a twist of fate.

The second shows Mubarak as president, developing into a dictator and surrounded by a family with an insatiable appetite for self-interest.

This is a tale of how power corrupts, of how a once-modest man turned into an all-powerful pharaoh who rode roughshod over the wishes of his subjects - and of a dramatic downfall.

The Family includes testimony from those who served with Mubarak as well as members of his family and inner circle and photographs from the family album.