Egypt Sentences to Death 529 Muslim Brotherhood Supporters

An Egyptian court has sentenced to death 529 supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.

The news was first communicated by defendants' lawyers, France 24 has reported. Lawyers earlier complained they were given no chance to present their case.

The ruling can be appealed.

The Brotherhood's members facing death penalty are part of a group comprising over 1200 Morsi supporters convicted of numerous charges.

Monday's defendants were tried over crimes such as murdering a policeman at attacking security forces.

Other 700 to follow on Tuesday are accused of attacking people and public property in southern Egypt in August.

The BBC reports that Mohammed Badie, the Muslim Brotherhood's general guide, was among the convicted.

Only 16 of the defendants were acquitted on Monday.

Hundreds were arrested and thousands were killed in the unrest that followed after Egypt's army ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013.

The military explained it was forced to intervene after mass street protests against Morsi's government.

A severe crackdown on the Brotherhood was launched afterwards and the movement was declared a terrorist organization.