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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Egypt 'Hezbollah cell' on trial | Egypt 'Hezbollah cell' on trial |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A group accused of plotting attacks in Egypt for the Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah has gone on trial in Cairo. | A group accused of plotting attacks in Egypt for the Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah has gone on trial in Cairo. |
| The 22 defendants in court deny spying on ships in the Suez Canal and plotting attacks on holiday resorts popular with Israelis in Sinai. | The 22 defendants in court deny spying on ships in the Suez Canal and plotting attacks on holiday resorts popular with Israelis in Sinai. |
| At least one defendant said he had been tortured. Another four are on the run and being tried in their absence. | At least one defendant said he had been tortured. Another four are on the run and being tried in their absence. |
| Hezbollah's leader has admitted one of the men was an agent for the movement but denied any plan to harm Egypt. | |
| Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said the Hezbollah member was tasked with smuggling weapons to Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. | |
| The 26 men - two Lebanese, five Palestinians and 19 Egyptians - are charged with spying for a foreign group and planning attacks against tourists and shipping in the Suez Canal. | The 26 men - two Lebanese, five Palestinians and 19 Egyptians - are charged with spying for a foreign group and planning attacks against tourists and shipping in the Suez Canal. |
| They are also accused of sending operatives into the occupied Gaza Strip to help Palestinian militant groups there. | They are also accused of sending operatives into the occupied Gaza Strip to help Palestinian militant groups there. |
| 'Revenge' | 'Revenge' |
| As the charges were read out, several of the accused reportedly shouted: "We live and die as Egyptians. We will never betray our country." | As the charges were read out, several of the accused reportedly shouted: "We live and die as Egyptians. We will never betray our country." |
| At least one of the accused said he had been tortured while in Egyptian custody, Reuters news agency reported, adding that he had been referred for medical checks. | At least one of the accused said he had been tortured while in Egyptian custody, Reuters news agency reported, adding that he had been referred for medical checks. |
| A lawyer for the men said the charges against them were "absolutely not true". | A lawyer for the men said the charges against them were "absolutely not true". |
| "There was never any question in this case of a plot for the assassination of figures inside Egypt," said the lawyer, Montaser al-Zaiat. | "There was never any question in this case of a plot for the assassination of figures inside Egypt," said the lawyer, Montaser al-Zaiat. |
| Hezbollah has said the charges are politically motivated and in revenge for the movement's stance on Egypt's support for the Israeli blockade of Gaza. | Hezbollah has said the charges are politically motivated and in revenge for the movement's stance on Egypt's support for the Israeli blockade of Gaza. |
| Hezbollah supports Hamas - the Islamic movement which controls the coastal enclave - and has strongly criticised Egypt for not opening its border with Gaza to relieve the Israeli-imposed blockade on the territory. | |
| The trial has been adjourned until October. | The trial has been adjourned until October. |