The trial of Egypt’s former Islamist President Mohammed Morsi over his escape from prison in 2011 has begun, state media say.
Mr Morsi has been in detention since his overthrow in July
He was taken to the court in Cairo by helicopter from a prison in Alexandria, Mena news agency reports.
Mr Morsi, Egypt’s first freely-elected president, was deposed by the military in July 2013 after mass protests against his rule.
He is now facing four separate criminal trials on various charges.
Also on Tuesday, the interior ministry said that a ministry official, named in local media as Gen Mohammed Saeed, was shot dead on his way to work.
The killing comes amid a string of militant attacks on security services in recent days, and hours after Egypt’s top military body gave its backing for army chief Field Marshal Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to run for president.
No supporters
Tight security was in evidence around the Police Academy in Cairo hosting the trial, with armoured vehicles, police officers and military helicopters all visible, the BBC’s Sally Nabil reports from outside the building.
Supporters of Field Marshal Sisi have gathered outside the building, but no pro-Morsi supporters have appeared.
Mr Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood has been declared a terrorist organisation and authorities have punished any public showing of support for it.
Clashes between Brotherhood supporters and security forces were reported in the Ramses area of central Cairo.
Another 130 people are also facing charges in the prison break trial, but many of the defendants are currently on the run.
Mr Morsi stands accused of organising a mass breakout from the Wadi al-Natrun prison during the 2011 uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak, as well as the murder of prison officers.
Mr Morsi is appearing in a sound-proofed glass box during the trial and will only be permitted to speak after raising his hand.
State television reported that the defendants were shouting inside the glass box and were making the four-finger “Rabaa” protest sign, but could not be heard.
Security sources say the precautions have been taken to prevent any kind of disruption, our correspondent reports.
When he first appeared in court in November in a separate trial, Mr Morsi chanted slogans against the current government and the court. He also refused to recognise the court’s legitimacy or put on the required prison uniform.
In that trial, he and 14 other figures from the Muslim Brotherhood face charges of inciting the killing of protesters in clashes outside the presidential palace in December 2012, while Mr Morsi was in office.
On 19 January, it was reported that he and 24 others would also go on trial for insulting the judiciary. While in office, he had allegedly named a judge in a public speech and accused him of overseeing fraud in previous elections.
There has been a wide ranging crackdown on the Brotherhood and anyone seen as critical of the military in recent months, with the bloodiest episode coming with the clearing of two Brotherhood protest camps in August which left hundreds dead.
Mr Morsi’s supporters say he and other senior Brotherhood leaders are the victims of politically motivated prosecutions.
BBC
