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Egypt crisis: Morsi accused of plotting with Hamas Egypt crisis: Morsi accused of plotting with Hamas
(35 minutes later)
Ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is being held over allegations of links with Palestinian militants Hamas and plotting attacks on jails in the 2011 uprising, it has been announced.Ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is being held over allegations of links with Palestinian militants Hamas and plotting attacks on jails in the 2011 uprising, it has been announced.
He is to be questioned for an initial 15-day period, a judicial order said.He is to be questioned for an initial 15-day period, a judicial order said.
Mr Morsi's supporters are holding a mass rally in Cairo with a big counter-rally also expected in the city.Mr Morsi's supporters are holding a mass rally in Cairo with a big counter-rally also expected in the city.
Eleven people have been injured in clashes between rival groups, security sources say.Eleven people have been injured in clashes between rival groups, security sources say.
The order issued on Friday is the first official statement on Mr Morsi's judicial status since he was overthrown.The order issued on Friday is the first official statement on Mr Morsi's judicial status since he was overthrown.
He has been held at an undisclosed location since his removal by the military on 3 July.He has been held at an undisclosed location since his removal by the military on 3 July.
The order says the former president is suspected of conspiring with Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip and has strong links with Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, during the uprising against former President Hosni Mubarak. Since Mr Morsi, the country's first democratically elected president, was ousted, dozens of people have died in clashes between his supporters and opponents. Militants have also staged deadly attacks in the Sinai peninsula.
The state-run Mena news agency says Mr Morsi is accused of colluding with the Palestinian group to storm police stations and jails, "setting fire to one prison and enabling inmates to flee, including himself, as well as premeditated killing of officers, soldiers and prisoners". Accusations 'ridiculous'
The judicial order says the former president is suspected of conspiring with Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip and has strong links with Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, during the uprising against former President Hosni Mubarak.
He is accused of colluding with the Palestinian group to storm police stations and jails, "setting fire to one prison and enabling inmates to flee, including himself, as well as premeditated killing of officers, soldiers and prisoners".
Mr Morsi and several Muslim Brotherhood leaders were freed during a breakout at a Cairo prison in January 2011.Mr Morsi and several Muslim Brotherhood leaders were freed during a breakout at a Cairo prison in January 2011.
The BBC's Jim Muir in the Egyptian capital says the order provides legal cover for the continued detention at a time when the UN and Western powers are calling for the ousted president to be released or properly charged.The BBC's Jim Muir in the Egyptian capital says the order provides legal cover for the continued detention at a time when the UN and Western powers are calling for the ousted president to be released or properly charged.
A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, Gehad el-Haddad, described the accusations as "ridiculous". He told Reuters news agency that the order marked the return of the "old regime".A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, Gehad el-Haddad, described the accusations as "ridiculous". He told Reuters news agency that the order marked the return of the "old regime".
Heightened rhetoric Helicopters
Our correspondent says the order comes as Egypt is bracing itself for a trial of strength by numbers on the streets between the two sides in a dangerously polarised crisis. A huge crowd of Morsi supporters has filled streets around Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, where they have been holding a sit-in protest.
The army has warned any attempt to use violence during mass rallies on Friday will be "dealt with decisively and with force". Army helicopters flew low over the capital as army supporters also began to gather on Tahrir Square, the traditional focus for mass rallies in Cairo.
On Wednesday, army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on people to take to the streets to give the military a mandate to confront violence and "terrorism". The rally there was not expected to reach its full size until later in the day, when marchers converged from various points.
Since Mr Morsi was ousted, dozens of people have died in clashes between supporters and opponents of the Islamist leader. The army has warned any attempt to use violence during Friday's mass rallies will be "dealt with decisively and with force".
Militants have also staged deadly attacks in the Sinai peninsula. Its chief, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has called on people to take to the streets to give the military a mandate to confront violence and "terrorism".
Some analysts say the military could be preparing to move against sit-ins by Morsi supporters, including one in front of the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in a Cairo suburb. The Tamarod movement that organised protests which preceded Mr Morsi's removal has urged its supporters to turn out on Friday to show support for the military.
A huge crowd filled streets around the mosque on Friday. Mr Morsi narrowly won the presidential election in June 2012 but his opponents accused him of trying to impose an Islamist agenda on the country.
Army supporters have also begun to gather on Tahrir Square, with the rally there not expected to reach its full size until later in the day, when marchers converge.
The Tamarod movement that organised protests which preceded Mr Morsi's removal has urged its supporters to turn out on Friday.
"We call on all of the great Egyptian people to gather in the squares on Friday to officially demand that Mohammed Morsi be put on trial and to support the Egyptian armed forces in its coming war on terrorism," it said.
Mr Morsi narrowly won the presidential election in June 2012 to become Egypt's first democratically elected president, but his opponents accused him of trying to impose an Islamist agenda on the country.
Interim President Adly Mansour has set out a "roadmap" towards a revision of the constitution introduced by Mr Morsi and for fresh elections in early 2014, but this has has been rejected by the Muslim Brotherhood.Interim President Adly Mansour has set out a "roadmap" towards a revision of the constitution introduced by Mr Morsi and for fresh elections in early 2014, but this has has been rejected by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Hisham Qandil, who was prime minister under Mr Morsi proposed his own roadmap on Thursday, involving:Hisham Qandil, who was prime minister under Mr Morsi proposed his own roadmap on Thursday, involving:
There has been no official response to Mr Qandil's suggestions, and military spokesmen have previously given the Muslim Brotherhood a deadline of Saturday to join the official process.There has been no official response to Mr Qandil's suggestions, and military spokesmen have previously given the Muslim Brotherhood a deadline of Saturday to join the official process.
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