Egypt Adjourns Giza Trial Of Top Brotherhood Leaders

An Egyptian court on Wednesday adjourned to May 5 the trial of 14 Islamist figures, including Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie, charged with "inciting violence" during clashes last year between supporters and opponents of ousted President Mohamed Morsi.



The trial is the latest in a series of cases involving Morsi allies charged with inciting violence – accusations the defendants strenuously deny.



Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected leader, was ousted by the army last year – and later imprisoned on a raft of criminal charges – following massive demonstrations against his presidency.



Trial defendants face multiple charges, including "belonging to an outlawed group that aims to carry out terrorist acts," premeditated and attempted murder, arming militant groups, vandalism, disturbing public order and inciting violence during deadly clashes in Giza last July.



Other defendants in the case include leading Brotherhood members Mohamed al-Beltagi and Mohamed al-Erian, former supply minister and Brotherhood member Bassem Ouda, and Salafist preacher Safwat Hegazi.



Most defendants are in detention pending other trials, while six remain at large.



According to a judicial source, Wednesday's trial session was adjourned after the defendants failed to appear at the courtroom. The source gave no further details.



Last December, Egypt's military-backed interim government designated the 86-year-old Muslim Brotherhood a "terrorist organization," blaming it for a string of deadly bombings that the group has denied any involvement in.



By Sayed Fathi



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Kahire