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| Egypt: 26 sentenced to death over Suez 'terror plot' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An Egyptian court has sentenced 26 people to death for founding a "terror group" with the aim of attacking ships using the Suez Canal. | An Egyptian court has sentenced 26 people to death for founding a "terror group" with the aim of attacking ships using the Suez Canal. |
| Judges said the men were also accused of manufacturing missiles and explosives, local media report. | Judges said the men were also accused of manufacturing missiles and explosives, local media report. |
| The defendants were tried in absentia, Reuters news agency says. | The defendants were tried in absentia, Reuters news agency says. |
| The sentencing comes a day after the new Prime Minister designate, Ibrahim Mahlab, vowed he would "crush terrorism in all the corners of the country". | The sentencing comes a day after the new Prime Minister designate, Ibrahim Mahlab, vowed he would "crush terrorism in all the corners of the country". |
| Mr Mahlab has been put in charge of forming a new government following Monday's surprise resignation of interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi and his cabinet. | Mr Mahlab has been put in charge of forming a new government following Monday's surprise resignation of interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi and his cabinet. |
| Mr Beblawi was appointed in July 2013 after the military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi in the wake of mass protests. | Mr Beblawi was appointed in July 2013 after the military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi in the wake of mass protests. |
| Since then, more than 1,000 people have been killed and thousands of others detained in a crackdown by the security forces on the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement to which Mr Morsi belongs. | Since then, more than 1,000 people have been killed and thousands of others detained in a crackdown by the security forces on the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement to which Mr Morsi belongs. |
| Militants based in the Sinai peninsula have meanwhile stepped up attacks on government, police and the armed forces, killing hundreds. | Militants based in the Sinai peninsula have meanwhile stepped up attacks on government, police and the armed forces, killing hundreds. |
| In Wednesday's verdict, the court said the accused had harmed "national unity", inciting violence against the army, police, and Christians. | |
| The case will now be referred to the mufti, Egypt's top Islamic official, who has to validate the sentence. | |
| The final verdict is expected on 19 March. |