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Egypt Muslim Brotherhood leader and 682 others on trial | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie and 682 other supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi are standing trial in central Egypt. | |
They are accused of the murder and attempted murder of policemen during a crackdown on demonstrations in August. | |
Most of the defendants are being tried in absentia and officials said Mr Badie was not in court for security reasons. | |
The mass trial in Minya province comes a day after the same court sentenced 529 other Morsi supporters to death. | |
There has been widespread condemnation of the sentences, which were delivered on only the second session of the trial. | |
The Egyptian authorities have cracked down on the Brotherhood since the military overthrow Mr Morsi in July. More than 1,000 people have been killed and thousands of others arrested. | |
Mr Badie, the Brotherhood's general guide, is being detained along with dozens of other senior leaders of the Islamist movement. | |
The military stepped in after months of street protests against Mr Morsi - Egypt's first democratically-elected president. | |
Following Mr Morsi's removal from office the Brotherhood set up protest camps in Cairo, at which Mr Badie was a prominent figure. | Following Mr Morsi's removal from office the Brotherhood set up protest camps in Cairo, at which Mr Badie was a prominent figure. |
Police eventually dispersed the camps, killing hundreds of protesters, and Mr Badie went into hiding. He was detained in August. | Police eventually dispersed the camps, killing hundreds of protesters, and Mr Badie went into hiding. He was detained in August. |
Mr Badie's 38-year-old son Ammar was among those killed in the protests. | Mr Badie's 38-year-old son Ammar was among those killed in the protests. |
The Brotherhood and human rights groups denounced Monday's death sentences. | |
The verdicts must now go to Egypt's supreme religious authority, the Grand Mufti, for approval or rejection. | The verdicts must now go to Egypt's supreme religious authority, the Grand Mufti, for approval or rejection. |
Analysts say that although death sentences are often handed down in Egypt, few have been carried out in recent years. | Analysts say that although death sentences are often handed down in Egypt, few have been carried out in recent years. |
All of those convicted on Monday are expected to appeal. | All of those convicted on Monday are expected to appeal. |
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. |