An Egyptian court has cleared former president Hosni Mubarak and his two sons of fraud charges brought against them last year, and has ordered a retrial.

Mubarak has been in detention since April 2011. He was jailed last May for three years on charges of embezzling public funds to cover personal expenses.

Local reports suggest Mubarak will now be released as he has already served the maximum detention period allowed.

The fraud charges were the final convictions held against Mubarak. Last November, a court rejected charges that he was linked to the killing of hundreds of protesters during the 2011 revolution that ended his reign.

The decision to drop those charges led to some protests in Tahrir Square and clashes between Egyptian security forces and demonstrators.

Tear gas and live rounds were fired at the demonstrators on 29 November as security forces tried to disperse crowds.