Egypt: Morsi to face trial

 

The trial of ousted President Mohamed Morsi on charges of inciting the murder of protesters is due to start on November 4, Sky News reports.

Morsi will stand trial with 14 other members of his Muslim Brotherhood over the killings of at least 10 protesters outside his presidential palace in December 2012, according to state news agency MENA.

The deadly clashes broke out after the Brotherhood dispersed a sit-in by secular-leaning opponents.

They had gathered to oppose a temporary decree passed by Morsi placing his decisions beyond judicial review.

Morsi’s predecessor, Hosni Mubarak is also on trial.

The deaths came almost six months before Morsi was deposed in a military coup in July.

Morsi, who became Egypt’s first democratically elected president, has been detained in a secret location since his ouster.

Following his departure, security forces launched an extensive crackdown on his supporters that has resulted in more than 1,000 deaths. The Muslim Brotherhood has also been banned.

Hundreds of Islamist loyalists were killed on August 14 when security forces broke up two protest camps set up by Morsi supporters in Cairo.