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Egypt on high alert as Mohammed Morsi goes on trial Egypt on high alert as Mohammed Morsi goes on trial
(about 1 hour later)
Egypt's ousted ex-President Mohammed Morsi has gone on trial under tight security on the outskirts of Cairo.Egypt's ousted ex-President Mohammed Morsi has gone on trial under tight security on the outskirts of Cairo.
He and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood figures face charges of inciting the killing of protesters outside the presidential palace in 2012.He and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood figures face charges of inciting the killing of protesters outside the presidential palace in 2012.
Shortly after it began, the trial was temporarily halted because of chanting by defendants and Mr Morsi's refusal to wear prison uniform, state TV says.Shortly after it began, the trial was temporarily halted because of chanting by defendants and Mr Morsi's refusal to wear prison uniform, state TV says.
Protests took place outside the court and elsewhere in Cairo.Protests took place outside the court and elsewhere in Cairo.
Mr Morsi was ousted by the military in July after protests against his rule.Mr Morsi was ousted by the military in July after protests against his rule.
Early on Monday he was airlifted into the sprawling Police Academy compound by helicopter. Other members of the Brotherhood, including Essam el-Erian, Mohammed al-Beltagi and Ahmed Abdel Aatie, were said to have been brought in by armoured personnel carriers.Early on Monday he was airlifted into the sprawling Police Academy compound by helicopter. Other members of the Brotherhood, including Essam el-Erian, Mohammed al-Beltagi and Ahmed Abdel Aatie, were said to have been brought in by armoured personnel carriers.
The former president was seen from a distance in civilian clothes, Egyptian radio reported - his first appearance in public since he was deposed on 3 July.The former president was seen from a distance in civilian clothes, Egyptian radio reported - his first appearance in public since he was deposed on 3 July.
According to state TV, he was then taken into the courtroom where the charges were read out. As he entered the court, Mr Morsi refused to remove his suit and put on the required prison uniform. State media said this decision as well as the chanting of "illegal, illegal" by the defendants prompted the trial judge to adjourn proceedings temporarily.
As he entered the court, Mr Morsi refused to wear the required prison uniform and state media said this decision as well as chanting by defendants prompted the trial judge to adjourn proceedings temporarily. The former president and his co-defendants had been widely expected to use the occasion to underline what they see as the illegitimacy of his removal from power.
The trial had been due to take place at Tora prison on the other side of Cairo but had been switched late on Sunday, apparently to deter protesters.The trial had been due to take place at Tora prison on the other side of Cairo but had been switched late on Sunday, apparently to deter protesters.
Shortly after Mr Morsi's arrival, a small crowd arrived and began chanting outside the sprawling police compound more than one hour's drive from the centre of the city. Shortly after Mr Morsi's arrival, a small crowd arrived and began chanting outside the police compound more than one hour's drive from the centre of the city.
The crowd soon grew and protesters were briefly seen on state TV chanting slogans against army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who led the Mr Morsi's removal from power. The crowd soon grew and protesters were briefly seen on state TV chanting slogans against army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who led Mr Morsi's removal from power. Demonstrators shouted at a state TV crew and chanted "liars" before pelting them with stones.
Other protests took place in Cairo itself. outside the High Court in the centre of the city, and outside the Supreme Constitutional Court in the south. Other protests took place in Cairo itself, outside the High Court in the centre of the city, and at the Supreme Constitutional Court in the south.
The building was reportedly evacuated.
While state institutions were said to have opened normally on Monday, some private schools had told parents to keep their children at home.
'Murder and violence''Murder and violence'
Although Mr Morsi won the presidency in a democratic election, during his 13 months in power he fell out with key institutions.Although Mr Morsi won the presidency in a democratic election, during his 13 months in power he fell out with key institutions.
The ex-president is accused of "incitement to murder and violence" over the deaths of at least 10 people during intense clashes in December 2012 which followed a decree that gave him wide-ranging powers. The ex-president is accused of "inciting his supporters to carry out premeditated murder, and inciting the use of violence and thuggery" over the deaths of at least 10 people during intense clashes in December 2012 which followed a decree that gave him wide-ranging powers.
After he was ousted, a sit-in protest in Cairo by Mr Morsi's supporters was violently broken up by the military, leading to the deaths of hundreds of people.After he was ousted, a sit-in protest in Cairo by Mr Morsi's supporters was violently broken up by the military, leading to the deaths of hundreds of people.
The interim government has also cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood, from which Mr Morsi hails, banning the Islamist organisation and arresting dozens of senior figures.The interim government has also cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood, from which Mr Morsi hails, banning the Islamist organisation and arresting dozens of senior figures.
His supporters say he was removed in a coup and is now facing a politicised trial. Human rights groups accuse the security services of acting without accountability.His supporters say he was removed in a coup and is now facing a politicised trial. Human rights groups accuse the security services of acting without accountability.
Mr Morsi and his co-defendants are expected to use the trial to underline what they see as the illegitimacy of their ousting. There is considerable interest in Egypt in whether the authorities decide to televise the former leader's appearance in court.
His senior communications adviser, Wael Haddara, told the BBC that the process was a "charade" because everyone involved had been appointed by the military.His senior communications adviser, Wael Haddara, told the BBC that the process was a "charade" because everyone involved had been appointed by the military.
"What is the military afraid of? Why won't they let him speak? Even prisoners have rights.""What is the military afraid of? Why won't they let him speak? Even prisoners have rights."
The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo says the court proceedings will be a trial of strength for the two dominant forces in Egyptian life - testing the army's ability to keep order on the streets and the Islamic movement's ability to continue to resist under crushing pressure.The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo says the court proceedings will be a trial of strength for the two dominant forces in Egyptian life - testing the army's ability to keep order on the streets and the Islamic movement's ability to continue to resist under crushing pressure.
Tight securityTight security
On Saturday, Egyptian newspaper al-Watan published what it said were the first images of Mr Morsi in detention.On Saturday, Egyptian newspaper al-Watan published what it said were the first images of Mr Morsi in detention.
The images, which have not been independently verified and are undated, show Mr Morsi dressed in a tracksuit and sitting in an armchair, appearing animated and comfortable.The images, which have not been independently verified and are undated, show Mr Morsi dressed in a tracksuit and sitting in an armchair, appearing animated and comfortable.
He has been held at a secret location since he was ousted by the military, who had given the then-president a 48-hour ultimatum to end mass protests against his rule.He has been held at a secret location since he was ousted by the military, who had given the then-president a 48-hour ultimatum to end mass protests against his rule.
The trial of his predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, is being held at the same location - meaning there are two former Egyptian presidents being tried concurrently. The trial of his predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, is also being held at the Police Academy - meaning there are two former Egyptian presidents being tried concurrently.
Correspondents in Cairo say people are nervous about what the coming days will bring, expecting the trial to deepen the rift between Egyptians and causing greater unrest and instability.Correspondents in Cairo say people are nervous about what the coming days will bring, expecting the trial to deepen the rift between Egyptians and causing greater unrest and instability.
On Sunday evening, gunmen killed two Egyptian policemen near the city of Ismailia, and there are fears more violence could erupt.On Sunday evening, gunmen killed two Egyptian policemen near the city of Ismailia, and there are fears more violence could erupt.
The security forces are expected to deploy 20,000 officers to keep order. An estimated 20,000 security personnel have been deployed to keep order.
They are watching railway and bus stations for gatherings of Islamists and have closed a stretch of underground railway near the trial venue.They are watching railway and bus stations for gatherings of Islamists and have closed a stretch of underground railway near the trial venue.
Only days before Mr Morsi's trial, three presiding judges stepped down at the trial of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie and his two aides.Only days before Mr Morsi's trial, three presiding judges stepped down at the trial of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie and his two aides.
Judge Mohammed Fahmy al-Qarmuty said he and his colleagues had a "feeling of embarrassment" over the case.Judge Mohammed Fahmy al-Qarmuty said he and his colleagues had a "feeling of embarrassment" over the case.
Legal experts say that if convicted Mr Morsi could be jailed for life or face the death penalty.Legal experts say that if convicted Mr Morsi could be jailed for life or face the death penalty.
'Move to democracy'
Ahead of the trial, US Secretary of State John Kerry stopped in Cairo for a brief visit at the start of his tour of the region.
He called for an end to all violence in the country and urged moves to full democracy. He also said the US was committed to working with Egypt's military-backed rulers.
On his six-hour stop, Mr Kerry met the interim leaders who assumed control following Mr Morsi's removal in July - President Adly Mahmud Mansour, Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi, Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy and Gen Sisi.
Mr Kerry said Egypt's fortunes, and its bilateral relations, depended on its democratic transition.
"The United States believes that the US-Egypt partnership is going to be stronger when Egypt is represented by an inclusive, democratically elected civilian government based on rule of law, fundamental freedoms and an open and competitive economy," he said.
His Egyptian counterpart, Nabil Fahmy, said Mr Kerry's comments and the "roadmap" Gen Sisi had laid out following the military takeover - which sets out constitutional reform and elections by spring 2014 - indicated that "we are all pursuing a resumption of normal relations".
Mr Kerry also reportedly met members of Egyptian civil society alarmed by the crackdown.
Last month the US froze a large portion of the $1.3bn (£810m) in aid it sends to Egypt, prompting condemnation from Cairo.
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