CAIRO: The trial of Egypt’s ousted President Mohamed Morsi and 14 other defendants including former presidential aides and leaders of his Muslim Brotherhood movement will start on Wednesday under high security measures.
Meanwhile, police officials said that Morsi arrived at the courthouse by helicopter for his trial.
Morsi, as the first democratically-elected president was ousted by the military on July 3, is accused of inciting the murder of protesters outside his presidential palace in December 2012.
The trial against the ousted president and his co-defendants are being held in a makeshift court room inside a police academy outside the capital Cairo.
Morsi is also being charged with espionage and accused of planning prison breaks.
An Islamist coalition led by the Muslim Brotherhood has called for Morsi’s supporters to gather in imposing marches on Wednesday at the beginning of the trial.
“The coup has collapsed. We are waiting for final decisive victory… Mass in imposing marches on Wednesday, January 8, to reject the farce of the century and to support the steadfastness of the President, in all cities across the country,” the coalition said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Let us also gather at the venue of the trial, under the banner ‘The People defend Their President’,” the statement said.
