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Lawyers for Egypt's Morsi walk out of latest trial | Lawyers for Egypt's Morsi walk out of latest trial |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Lawyers for deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi have walked out of his trial on charges of espionage and conspiring to commit acts of terror. | Lawyers for deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi have walked out of his trial on charges of espionage and conspiring to commit acts of terror. |
The trial has now been adjourned until 23 February. | The trial has now been adjourned until 23 February. |
The lawyers withdrew in protest at Mr Morsi and other defendants being confined in a soundproofed glass cage. | The lawyers withdrew in protest at Mr Morsi and other defendants being confined in a soundproofed glass cage. |
The Islamist former leader is facing four separate trials, three of which have now opened. | The Islamist former leader is facing four separate trials, three of which have now opened. |
Mr Morsi was brought to Cairo's police academy on Sunday morning by helicopter from the Burj al-Arab prison where he is being held. | Mr Morsi was brought to Cairo's police academy on Sunday morning by helicopter from the Burj al-Arab prison where he is being held. |
In this trial, he and 35 others are accused of working with Lebanese and Palestinian groups to carry out attacks in Egypt. | In this trial, he and 35 others are accused of working with Lebanese and Palestinian groups to carry out attacks in Egypt. |
Mr Morsi has been put in the soundproof cage in recent appearances to prevent him shouting and disrupting proceedings. | Mr Morsi has been put in the soundproof cage in recent appearances to prevent him shouting and disrupting proceedings. |
The defendants have said they cannot follow proceedings because of the cage, but the judge insisted that headphones installed inside the dock will allow them to listen. | The defendants have said they cannot follow proceedings because of the cage, but the judge insisted that headphones installed inside the dock will allow them to listen. |
The cage allows the judge to control when the defendants are heard. | The cage allows the judge to control when the defendants are heard. |
At one point when he was audible, Mr Morsi said: "What are you so afraid of? Are you afraid because you have no public support?" Reuters reports. | At one point when he was audible, Mr Morsi said: "What are you so afraid of? Are you afraid because you have no public support?" Reuters reports. |
The court said it would appoint a new defence team. | The court said it would appoint a new defence team. |
Morsi defiant | Morsi defiant |
Mr Morsi was ousted by the military last July following mass street protests against his rule. | Mr Morsi was ousted by the military last July following mass street protests against his rule. |
Since Mr Morsi was ousted there has been a severe crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood group, as well as on other activists seen as hostile to the military-backed government. | Since Mr Morsi was ousted there has been a severe crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood group, as well as on other activists seen as hostile to the military-backed government. |
The Brotherhood has been declared a terrorist organisation and authorities have punished any public show of support for it. | The Brotherhood has been declared a terrorist organisation and authorities have punished any public show of support for it. |
Other senior Brotherhood figures, including supreme guide Mohammed Badie and his deputy and former presidential candidate Khairat al-Shater, are also facing a raft of charges, | Other senior Brotherhood figures, including supreme guide Mohammed Badie and his deputy and former presidential candidate Khairat al-Shater, are also facing a raft of charges, |
At least 1,000 people have died in clashes between security forces and pro-Morsi protesters since he was deposed, with thousands more arrested. | At least 1,000 people have died in clashes between security forces and pro-Morsi protesters since he was deposed, with thousands more arrested. |
In this latest trial, Mr Morsi is accused of collaborating with the Palestinian movement Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iran's Revolutionary Guards. If convicted he could receive the death penalty. | In this latest trial, Mr Morsi is accused of collaborating with the Palestinian movement Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iran's Revolutionary Guards. If convicted he could receive the death penalty. |
Proceedings in two other trials have already begun: | Proceedings in two other trials have already begun: |
Mr Morsi's supporters say he and other senior Brotherhood leaders are the victims of politically motivated prosecutions. | Mr Morsi's supporters say he and other senior Brotherhood leaders are the victims of politically motivated prosecutions. |
In his previous court appearances Mr Morsi has struck a defiant tone, refusing to recognise the legitimacy of the court and insisting that he is still the rightful president. | In his previous court appearances Mr Morsi has struck a defiant tone, refusing to recognise the legitimacy of the court and insisting that he is still the rightful president. |
During that court appearance, from inside a glassed-in defendants' cage, he shouted: "I am the president of the republic. How can I be kept in a dump for weeks?" | During that court appearance, from inside a glassed-in defendants' cage, he shouted: "I am the president of the republic. How can I be kept in a dump for weeks?" |
Also on Sunday, the state-run al-Ahram newspaper reported that Lt Gen Sami Enan, former chief of staff of the armed forces, will run in the upcoming presidential elections. | |
Many are expecting Field Marshal Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, who led the army action that deposed Mr Morsi and has since been seen as being effectively in control of the country, to announce his own presidential bid. |