Egypt’s Morsi in Cairo court for trial

Egypt’s ousted President Mohamed Morsi has been taken to a court in eastern Cairo, where he is to be tried for ‘murder charges’ during his single year of presidency.

The country’s first democratically-elected president arrived at the courthouse in the police academy on Monday.

“His helicopter landed… The others were driven to the court during curfew hours,” a security official said.

Morsi faces charges of inciting violence and murder in connection with clashes outside the presidential palace in December 2012. The charges could lead to the death penalty or life in prison.

Fourteen Muslim Brotherhood officials including three aides to Morsi will also stand trial on Monday.

The Muslim Brotherhood has called the charges fabricated, demanding that its supporters pour into the streets in protest.

An anti-coup alliance that supports Morsi has stated that he would not cooperate with authorities as he does not recognize authority of the court.

On Sunday, Egyptian authorities changed the venue of the trial over growing fears of violence and bloodshed. The last-minute change came after Morsi supporters called for a major demonstration outside the initial venue.

On July 3, General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the head of Egypt’s armed forces, ousted Morsi from office. The president was arrested and taken to an undisclosed location afterward.

On November 1, tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Egypt in protest against the trial of Morsi, calling for his reinstatement. They also demanded justice for Muslim Brotherhood supporters killed in the army crackdown since July 3.

A large number of Brotherhood officials and supporters are also held in custody.

The trial comes shortly after a visit by US State Secretary John Kerry to Cairo. Kerry met with high-ranking Egyptian authorities, where he pledged Washington’s support for the interim Egyptian government.