CAIRO 

An Egyptian legal authority on Monday ruled in favor of former President Hosni Mubarak by allowing him to retain his "privileges" as former president, a judicial source has said.

The state-run General Assembly of Fatwas and Legislation ruled that Mubarak and his family could keep their privileges as first family, the source told The Anadolu Agency.

The assembly also said that Mubarak could keep his medals of honor and presidential pension.

The assembly argued that there was no court verdict preventing the former president and his family from retaining their privileges.

On Monday, supporters of Mubarak, who stepped down in 2011 following pro-democracy protests, celebrated the aging former leader's 87th birthday.