Egypt deploys 20,000 police to protect Morsi's trial

Egypt's Interior Ministry has mobilized 20,000 police to ensure security for the trial of ousted President Mohamed Morsi and 14 leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) scheduled to take place on January 8.

A senior security source at the ministry said more than 30 armored vehicles would also be deployed around the Police Academy headquarters in the eastern suburbs of Cairo amid rising unrest with several suicide bombings targeting police and military forces.

Riot police ensure security for the trial on November 4. (Source: AFP/VNA)

A military helicopter is expected to take Mr Morsi from Borg al-Arab prison in Alexandria to the trial site.

Mr. Morsi and 14 accomplices, including two senior leaders of the MB, Mohamed El-Beltagi and Essam El-Erian, were accused of inciting violence and killing opposition protesters in front of the Presidential Palace in December 2012.

If found guilty, Mr Morsi could face life in prison or the death penalty. The first hearing of the trial took place on November 4 as scheduled, despite security concerns.

However, a few minutes into the trial, the presiding judge announced a postponement after it was interrupted twice by the defendants shouting slogans against the trial and the military.

Former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi was deposed by the military on July 3 following massive anti-government protests that attracted millions of participants across the country.

In addition to the above trial, Mr. Morsi also faces two other trials on charges of organizing prison breaks, kidnapping and killing police officers in early 2011, as well as spying and aiding terrorist activities.

According to analysts, the trial of Mr. Morsi on January 8 could incite a wave of protests and increase instability as Egypt prepares to hold a referendum on a new constitution on January 14-15.

Previously, on January 6, the National Alliance for the Support of Legitimacy (NASL) - a force led by the MB that brings together 34 political parties and Islamic movements fighting for the reinstatement of Mr. Morsi - called on its supporters to escalate protests to oppose this trial.

In a statement, the Islamic coalition stressed: "The coup has collapsed and victory is near. People will take to the streets in a million-strong protest both at home and abroad."

In addition, NASL also plans to organize a sit-in protest in Tahrir Square in central Cairo until January 15, to disrupt security forces.

In another development, Egypt's Central Election Commission (SEC) said that on January 8, about 681,000 Egyptian voters living abroad will begin voting on the new constitution.

Of these, nearly 313,000 (45% of Egyptians) are registered to vote in Saudi Arabia. Voting abroad will take place from January 8-12, and the vote counting will take place from January 13-15. After that, about 54 million voters out of a total population of 85 million living in the country will participate in the referendum on January 14-15.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity said that 40 domestic non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and 7 foreign NGOs have been granted permission to participate in monitoring the upcoming referendum on the new constitution./.

According to VNA