An appeals court has set January 28 for the trial of deposed President Mohamed Mursi and 130 others, including Muslim Brotherhood leaders, on charges of escaping prison, judicial sources said on Thursday.
The Islamist president is accused of escaping prison in collaboration with Hamas, Palestinian offshoot of the Brotherhood, in 2011 during the early days of the uprising that toppled autocratic Hosni Mubarak.
Many police stations and prisons were attacked on January 28, 2011, commonly known as the "Day of Rage", during the revolt against Mubarak, which led to the escape of prominent Islamist leaders.
Mursi, Brotherhood leaders and the Lebanese Hezbollah now face charges of killing policemen and helping thousands of inmates escape.
From his side, Mursi said that he escaped with the help of local residents who stormed the prison to release family members who were detained.
Mursi is already undergoing trial along with some Islamist leaders on charges of killing demonstrators outside the Ittihadiya presidential palace in December 2012. The second session of this trial is scheduled for January 8.
Credit: Aswatmasriya
