CAIRO (AA) - Egyptian authorities on Monday closed Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo as ousted elected president Mohamed Morsi arrived in court in eastern Cairo for the first day of his controversial trial.
Military armored vehicles blocked entrances to the iconic square, fearing Morsi supporters might attempt to stage demonstrations to protest his trial.
The pro-Morsi National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy has vowed to hold massive protests to denounce Morsi's ouster by the military four months ago and Tuesday's trial.
Morsi and other defendants arrived at the Police Academy in eastern Cairo, where the trial will be held, early Monday morning.
The court appearance will be Morsi's first appearance in public since his July 3 ouster.
He faces charges -- which critics insist are politically motivated -- of inciting the murder of protesters outside Cairo's Ittihadiya presidential palace late last year.
Fourteen other Muslim Brotherhood leaders and ex-presidency figures are accused in the same case.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
