Egypt ex-president Morsi tells judge ‘I am president’
QuestCinq.com/News updated
Egypt’s ousted leader Mohammed Morsi has gone on trial in Cairo, telling the judge the case is illegitimate as he remains president.
He and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood figures face charges of inciting the killing of protesters outside the presidential palace in 2012.
After Mr Morsi’s remarks and his refusal to wear a uniform, the judge adjourned the trial until 8 January.
He was then flown to Burj al-Arab prison in Alexandria, state TV said.
Earlier reports had suggested that he would be taken to Tora prison on the outskirts of Cairo. Until now he had been held at a secret military location.
Protests took place outside the court and elsewhere in Cairo.
In court
Orla GuerinBBC News, CairoThere was so much noise and disruption during what was at times almost a circus-like hearing that the judge had to adjourn proceedings twice.
Mohammed Morsi arrived looking quite relaxed. He waved at supporters when he came in, he smiled and gave the four-finger salute [used by his supporters].
Almost as soon as the judge began speaking he began interrupting. He shouted out repeatedly, even when his voice was hoarse. He kept repeating: “This is not a legitimate trial, this trial is part of the coup; the coup itself is a crime.”
He interrupted the first session at least three times before the judge adjourned. During the second session he interrupted twice saying: “I am the president, I am the president, you have no right to conduct a trial into presidential matters”.
He sat quietly during the first break in the trial and was surrounded by some of his fellow defendants, members of the Brotherhood he has not seen since he was removed by the military. He smiled, gesticulated and gave one of them a bear hug.
Read more: Mr Morsi was ousted by the military in July after protests against his rule.
Egypt on high alert as Mohammed Morsi trial looms
–Egypt’s ousted former President Mohammed Morsi is due to stand trial on Monday, along with 14 other senior Muslim Brotherhood figures.
They are charged with inciting the killing of protesters during clashes outside the presidential palace last December.
Security services are on high alert after supporters of the former president called for major protests.
Mr Morsi was ousted by the military in July after protests against his rule.
Although he won the presidency in a democratic election, during his 13 months in power Mr Morsi fell out with key institutions.
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.
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.
Read more: Tight security…
Source:BBC
