Morsi to face trial over jail break case

Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi shout slogans against the military and interior ministry while holding his poster and gesturing with four fingers in front of Al Rayyan mosque after Friday prayers in the southern suburb of Maadi, on the outskirts of Cairo December 27, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

CAIRO - Egypt's former Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, will face trial on January 28 over a mass jail break in 2011, one of three cases against him since he was ousted by the army in July, judicial sources said.

Since Morsi was deposed, security forces have launched a wide crackdown against his Muslim Brotherhood group, arresting thousands over accusations of inciting violence and designating the group a terrorist organisation last month.

Morsi has also been charged in connection with the killing of protesters and collaborating with Islamist Hamas group and Hezbollah to carry out a terrorist conspiracy against Egypt.

He could face the death penalty over such charges.

Morsi, along with other leaders of the Brotherhood, escaped from prison on January 28, 2011, after being rounded up with other Brotherhood leaders during the 18-day uprising that toppled veteran leader Hosni Mubarak.

The first session of his trial is due on the anniversary of that jail break.

Morsi won the first post-Mubarak presidential elections in 2012 and ruled Egypt for almost a year before mass protests against his rule prompted the army to overthrow him and appoint an interim government in July.

The Brotherhood, once Egypt's best-organised political and religious movement that won five consecutive elections after Mubarak's downfall in 2011, denies any links to violence and accuse the army of staging a military coup.

Hundreds of pro-Morsi supporters who have demanded his reinstatement have been killed when security forces stormed their protest camps in August. Thousands of others have been rounded up by security forces over accusations of violence.

Around 350 police and soldiers have been killed in bombings and shootings since Morsi was deposed.