CAIRO (AA) – The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has asked the country's banks to take special measures in anticipation of possible violence as ousted President Mohamed Morsi's trial began Monday morning, an Egyptian banker told Anadolu Agency.
Abdel-Hamid Abu Moussa, governor of the Faisal Islamic Bank, said the CBE had asked his bank to tighten security in light of what it described as "Egypt's current exceptional circumstances."
He told AA that most Egyptian bank heads had granted permission to branch managers nationwide to close their doors if the need arose.
Abu Moussa said banks working in Egypt had their own contingency plans, which would be applied according to developments on the ground.
He did not rule out the possibility that some banks might close prematurely in the event that violence erupted.
Fears are high that Morsi's trial will be accompanied by clashes.
The National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy, Morsi's main support block, has asked supporters to stage mass protests against the ousted president's overthrow and subsequent trial.
Morsi, along with 14 other defendants (including several other high-ranking Muslim Brotherhood officials), faces charges of inciting the murder of protesters outside Cairo's Ittihadiya presidential palace late last year.
Although it will not be televised, the ousted president's Monday trial will represent Morsi's first public appearance since his ouster four months ago by the powerful military establishment.
The defendants, including Morsi, arrived at the Police Academy in eastern Cairo – which is serving as the trial venue – early Monday morning amid a heavy security presence.
Trial proceedings began at about 10:30am local time.
Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected leader, was ousted by the military on July 3 after only one year in office following large demonstrations against his presidency.
By Ahmed al-Husseini - Anadolu Agency
englishnews@aa.com.tr
