Egypt ex-President Morsi jail escape trial begins

Cairo. The trial of Egypt’s former Islamist President Mohammed Morsi over his escape from prison in 2011 has begun, state media say. He was taken to the court in Cairo by helicopter from a prison in Alexandria, Mena news agency reports. Mr Morsi, Egypt’s first freely-elected president, was deposed by the military in July 2013 after mass protests against his rule. He is now facing four separate criminal trials on various charges. Also on Tuesday, the interior ministry said that a ministry official, named in local media as Gen Mohammed Saeed, was shot dead on his way to work. The killing comes amid a string of militant attacks on security services in recent days, and hours after Egypt’s top military body gave its backing for army chief Field Marshal Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to run for president. Tight security was in evidence around the Police Academy in Cairo hosting the trial, with armoured vehicles, police officers and military helicopters all visible, the BBC’s Sally Nabil reports from outside the building. Supporters of Field Marshal Sisi have gathered outside the building, but no pro-Morsi supporters have appeared. Mr Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood has been declared a terrorist organisation and authorities have punished any public showing of support for it. Clashes between Brotherhood supporters and security forces were reported in the Ramses area of central Cairo. Another 130 people are also facing charges in the prison break trial, but many of the defendants are currently on the run. Mr Morsi stands accused of organising a mass breakout from the Wadi al-Natrun prison during the 2011 uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak, as well as the murder of prison officers. Mr Morsi is appearing in a sound-proofed glass box during the trial and will only be permitted to speak after raising his hand. State television reported that the defendants were shouting inside the glass box and were making the four-finger “Rabaa” protest sign, but could not be heard. Security sources say the precautions have been taken to prevent any kind of disruption, our correspondent reports. When he first appeared in court in November in a separate trial, Mr Morsi chanted slogans against the current government and the court. He also refused to recognise the court’s legitimacy or put on the required prison uniform.