Egyptian court adjourns trial of Muslim Brotherhood leaders
Photo: Agence France-PresseThe trial of the Muslim Brotherhood\’s spiritual leader, Mohamed Badie, and two of his deputies on charges of inciting deadly violence during the protests that preceded the army\’s overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi was adjourned Sunday minutes after it opened.
Officials say the three men were not brought to the courtroom for security reasons.
The next session will be held October 29.
Badie has been seen by some as the driving force behind the presidency of Morsi, who was ousted by Egypt\’s military July 3 after days of large-scale demonstrations by Egyptians unhappy with his rule.
In a separate development Sunday, ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak appeared before another court for a session of his retrial on charges of killing protesters during the 2011 uprising.
Mubarak, who left prison for house arrest this week, is to have a hearing in his retrial on charges of complicity in the deaths of protesters during the 2011 uprising that removed him.
The case is one of several against Mubarak, who was granted pre-trial release this week but placed under house arrest by the interim prime minister, Hazem el-Beblawi.
The Islamist group\’s spiritual leader, Mohamed Badie, and two of his deputies will face charges of inciting deadly violence during the protests that preceded the army\’s overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi.
Badie has been seen by some as the driving force behind the presidency of Morsi, who was ousted by Egypt\’s military July 3 after days of large-scale demonstrations by Egyptians unhappy with his rule.
Another three Brotherhood members will stand trial with them, accused of carrying out the murder of the demonstrators in the incident.
Like Mubarak, all six Brotherhood members also face the death penalty if convicted.
Meanwhile on Saturday, Egyptian authorities reopened the border between Egypt and Gaza, after a five-day closure that prevented thousands of Palestinians from traveling.
Thousands have been waiting to enter Egypt via the Rafah crossing for school or to go to the hospital. Hundreds more Palestinians are reportedly waiting to get back home to Gaza.
It is not clear how long Egyptian authorities will keep the crossing open.
Hamas leaders in Gaza have a tense relationship with Egypt\’s army-backed leadership. Egyptian officials have accused Hamas of aiding militants in the Sinai and blame security concerns for delays at the Rafah crossing.
The reopening comes a day after thousands of Muslim Brotherhood supporters took to the streets in scattered protests across Egypt to call for an end to the military-backed government and the reinstatement of Morsi.
Egypt\’s interim government has shortened a night-time curfew imposed in the wake of recent violent unrest.
The curfew will now begin two hours later, at 21:00 local time – although on Fridays, when protests usually take place, it will still start at 19:00.
More than 1,000 people died after security forces cleared Cairo sit-ins by supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi earlier this month.
Source: Agencies
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