Egypt: Morsi Trial Halted Due To Chanting

The trial of former Egyptian leader Mohamed Morsi and 14 others has been postponed until January 8 after the defendants refused to cooperate.

The postponement - on the first day of the controversial trial - came after persistent chanting from the defendants and a two-hour delay to the start of proceedings.

Security officials said the delay was caused by Mohamed Morsi not wanting to change into prison uniform, part of his refusal to recognise the trial's legitimacy.

Some 20,000 police officers have been deployed to maintain order as Morsi goes on trial accused of inciting the deaths of at least 10 protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012.

Morsi supporters have been protesting outside the trial

Egypt's first democratically-elected president could face the death penalty or a life sentence if found guilty.

A statement from the deposed leader, published in the Al Ahram newspaper, said: "I am the legitimate president of the country. I refuse to accept that the Egyptian judiciary be a cover for the criminal military coup.

"I am present here by force and I demand that the head of this court not participate in the coup and restore my authority as president."

Riot police are keeping watch at the police academy

Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, which is now a banned group, accuse the army-installed government of fabricating the charges and has called for protests, raising fears of new clashes.

Hundreds have gathered outside the trial to support him.

The trial is being seen as a test for Egypt's new authorities, who have come under fire from human rights groups for their heavy-handed approach in dealing with dissent.

Morsi, who has been held by the army at a secret location since he was ousted on July 3, was flown to the police academy in east Cairo earlier today for the start of proceedings.

Tahrir Square, the main site of protests in the past, was sealed off ahead of the trial by army vehicles and barbed wire.

Protesters attack a TV truck outside the court

Sky News' Sam Kiley, who is in Cairo, said Morsi supporters chased away some media organisations outside the trial.

"(They) have taken the view that the Egyptian media - the Arab media in general - has not represented their side of the story, has not sufficiently examined whether or not this was a coup."

The Muslim Brotherhood gained power in elections after the 2011 uprising against former president Hosni Mubarak, on trial facing similar charges.

However, millions of Egyptians soon grew disillusioned with the group's rule and took to the streets this summer to demand Morsi's resignation.

The army - whose regime now runs the country - removed him from power, saying they were responding to the will of the people.

More than 1,000 people have died in a security crackdown since the military took charge, including hundreds on August 14 when security forces broke up two protest camps.

During a six-hour visit to Cairo on Sunday, US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Egyptians to ensure a return to a democratically-elected government.

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