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| Egypt Muslim Brotherhood mass death sentence ruling due | Egypt Muslim Brotherhood mass death sentence ruling due |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A court in Egypt is due to deliver final verdicts for hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters accused of attacking a police station in 2013. | A court in Egypt is due to deliver final verdicts for hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters accused of attacking a police station in 2013. |
| A judge recommended the death penalty for the 683 defendants, in a mass trial in April that drew widespread criticism from human rights groups. | A judge recommended the death penalty for the 683 defendants, in a mass trial in April that drew widespread criticism from human rights groups. |
| Mohammed Badie, leader of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, is among them. | Mohammed Badie, leader of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, is among them. |
| The military-installed government has sentenced at least 1,000 of its opponents since December. | The military-installed government has sentenced at least 1,000 of its opponents since December. |
| Authorities have cracked down harshly on Islamists since former President Mohammed Morsi, who belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood, was removed by the military in July 2013 following mass protests. | Authorities have cracked down harshly on Islamists since former President Mohammed Morsi, who belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood, was removed by the military in July 2013 following mass protests. |
| Saturday's verdict is due to be delivered by a court in the town of Minya, south of Cairo. | |
| The defendants face charges over an attack on a police station in Minya on 14 August 2013, in which policemen were killed. | The defendants face charges over an attack on a police station in Minya on 14 August 2013, in which policemen were killed. |
| Hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters were also killed in clashes with police in Cairo that day. | Hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters were also killed in clashes with police in Cairo that day. |
| Defence lawyers called the mass trial "farcical" and said many of those accused were not present during the clashes. | Defence lawyers called the mass trial "farcical" and said many of those accused were not present during the clashes. |
| Following April's trial, the recommended death sentences were referred to the Grand Mufti - Egypt's top Islamic authority - for review. | Following April's trial, the recommended death sentences were referred to the Grand Mufti - Egypt's top Islamic authority - for review. |
| The court was due to consider his opinion before issuing its final decision. | The court was due to consider his opinion before issuing its final decision. |
| However correspondents say the case is likely to go to Egypt's appeal courts. | However correspondents say the case is likely to go to Egypt's appeal courts. |
| On Thursday, Mr Badie and 13 others were also given recommended death sentences over a separate case involving deadly clashes last year. | On Thursday, Mr Badie and 13 others were also given recommended death sentences over a separate case involving deadly clashes last year. |