Egyptian Court Orders Mubarak's Release CAIRO - Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak could be released from prison as early as Thursday after a Cairo court today ordered his release. But even if he walks out of Cairo's Tora prison, the former dictator will be barred from leaving the country under a previously issued travel ban and unable to access his foreign assets. "The court decided to release him," Mubarak's longtime lawyer, Fareed el-Deeb, told Reuters after today's court session. Asked when, he said, "Maybe tomorrow." Egyptian Prime Minister Says He Does "Not Fear Civil War" Egypt's state newspaper, Al Ahram, quoted an unnamed judicial source today who said his release could come as soon as tonight. Judicial sources confirmed to ABC News that the court had upheld a petition from Deeb that called for the release of the former dictator. The public prosecutor's office is not expected to appeal the decision. Deeb's prediction earlier this week that his client would be released within days was met with doubt. "All we have left is a simple administrative procedure that should take no more than 48 hours," Deeb told Reuters Monday. He should be freed by the end of the week. Deeb appears to have been right. Cairo's Criminal Court Monday cleared Mubarak, 85, of an outstanding corruption charge related to illegal gifts he received while in office. Egyptian PM: "Bad Sign" If America Cuts Military Aid The former dictator has been behind bars since April 2011 on a lengthy list of charges. Mubarak was sentenced last summer to life in prison for his failure to stop the killing of hundreds of civilians during the 18-day revolution of 2011. Today's news comes as Egypt descends into chaos after the ouster of its second president in two years, Mohamed Morsi, who was elected last year to replace Mubarak. After the deadliest week in the country's modern history, the reappearance of the embattled dictator threatens to inflame political tensions. More than 1,000 people have reportedly been killed since last Wednesday. During Morsi's presidency, the Muslim Brotherhood was keen to keep Mubarak locked up. But after the July 3 military takeover that removed the Brotherhood from power, his release will likely bolster the Islamists" claims that the old regime is making a comeback. Many of the new government's leaders also served under Mubarak. Egypt's army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, was Mubarak's head of intelligence and the interim president, Adly Mansour, was initially promoted by Mubarak. Meanwhile, two more senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders were arrested earlier today.