Former Egyptian President Mubarak  (Reuters)

An Egyptian court has ordered the retrial of former dictator Hosni Mubarak who has been serving a life sentence for his involvement in the murder of protesters during the historic Arab Spring.

Mubarak, 84, was convicted by a court after he was ousted from power and sentenced to life for failing to prevent the killing of 900 anti-regime protesters in the 2011 uprising.

"The court has ruled to accept the appeal filed by the defendants ... and orders a retrial," said Judge Ahmed Ali Abdel Rahman during the brief hearing. 

The uprising ended Mubarak's 29-year rule over the Arab world's most populous nation. His health has reportedly deteriorated during his incarceration.

The court has also ordered a retrial for former interior minister Habib el-Adly, who served under Mubarak. El-Adly also received a life sentence on similar grounds.

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