Egypt's Morsi to face fifth trial for incitement to murder

An Egyptian military court will try deposed president Mohamed Morsi (above) and 198 Islamist leaders and supporters over a deadly protest in 2013 following his overthrow, a prosecution source said Tuesday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
An Egyptian military court will try deposed president Mohamed Morsi (above) and 198 Islamist leaders and supporters over a deadly protest in 2013 following his overthrow, a prosecution source said Tuesday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

CAIRO (AFP) - An Egyptian military court will try deposed president Mohamed Morsi and 198 Islamist leaders and supporters over a deadly protest in 2013 following his overthrow, a prosecution source said Tuesday.

The defendants in the trial, which will start on February 23, also include Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie, the official MENA news agency reported.

Morsi, ousted in July 2013 by the army, already faces four trials but it will be the first before a military judge.

Military trials have been criticised for their harsh and swift verdicts.

The new charge against Morsi of incitement to murder stems from protests that broke out in Suez on Aug 14, the day police broke up pro-Morsi protest camps in the capital and killed hundreds of his supporters in clashes.

Morsi himself was detained at an undisclosed location by the military at the time, but the prosecution alleges he incited the protests that left 31 people dead over two days.

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