CAIRO (AA) - Cautious calm prevailed until 6 am GMT outside the Police Academy in eastern Cairo, where ousted president Mohamed Morsi and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood and ex-presidency defendants will have their first day in court Monday.
The National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy, the ousted president's main support bloc, has urged supporters to stage mass protests outside the courthouse.
The alliance, which is made up of mostly Islamist parties and pro-democracy groups, dismisses the trial as illegal.
One man waving an Egyptian flag -- apparently a critic of the ousted president -- made his presence known near the barbed-wire barriers erected by police officers around the Police Academy's gates, calling for the execution of Morsi and other Muslim Brotherhood leaders.
Police blocked the way to Gate 8 of the Police Academy, used for the entry of lawyers and Morsi's defense team.
- Morsi supporters show up outside Supreme Constitutional Court
CAIRO (AA) - Several supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi protested Monday morning outside Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) in southern Cairo.
Morsi is slated to make his first public appearance since his July 3 ouster by the powerful military to face charges that he incited the killing of demonstrators outside Cairo's Ittihadiya presidential palace late last year when he was president.
Although the ousted president will stand trial in the Police Academy in eastern Cairo, many of his supporters accuse the SCC of bias against the ousted president.
Following Morsi's ouster, the army installed SCC head Adly Mansour as Egypt's interim president.
An alliance of Islamist forces and pro-democracy groups has urged Egyptians to stage mass protests against Morsi's overthrow and subsequent trial.
Security officials, meanwhile, have threatened to respond "decisively" to any perceived attempts to disrupt public order during Monday's trial.
- Morsi supporters, opponents clash outside Cairo courthouse
CAIRO (AA) – Fistfights erupted Monday morning between supporters and opponents of ousted President Mohamed Morsi outside the Police Academy in eastern Cairo, where Morsi will be tried on charges of inciting the killing of demonstrators late last year.
The clashes began after Morsi supporters, who began to converge on the Police Academy to show support for the ousted president, chanted slogans against army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, while Morsi's opponents demanded the deposed leader's execution.
Demonstrators from both sides intervened at one point to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Morsi supporters began converging on the trial venue in answer to earlier calls for mass protests by the National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy, a coalition of pro-Morsi parties and groups.
Outside the courthouse, Morsi supporters called for the downfall of Egypt's "military regime."
Morsi – along with 14 other defendants, including several 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 to the Police Academy early Monday morning amid a massive security presence.
Trial proceedings are expected to begin imminently.
- Morsi supporters warned against protesting in Delta province
Muslim Brotherhood members and sympathizers in Egypt's Nile Delta Menoufiya province were warned on Monday not to leave their homes or stage protests in support of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, whose trial kicked off Monday.
"All Muslim Brotherhood members should stay home and not join any protests," read leaflets, distributed by unknown individuals.
"Whoever doesn't heed this warning will have only themself to blame," it added.
The leaflets were signed by people calling themselves "honest citizens."
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 to the Police Academy in eastern Cairo early Monday morning amid a massive security presence.
Trial proceedings are expected to begin imminently.
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.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
