Morsi's prison break trial resumes

An Egyptian court today resumed the trial of Mohammed Morsi and 131 others on charges of jailbreaks and attacks on police during the 2011 uprising but the defiant former president called on his followers to continue a "peaceful revolution".
Prosecutors have charged the defendants with damaging and setting fire to prison buildings, murder and looting prison weapons depots while facilitating the escape of prisoners from the "Hamas movement, Lebanon's Hezbollah, jihadists, (Muslim) Brotherhood and other criminals".
But Morsi struck a defiant note during his appearance in Cairo Criminal Court, saying: "The revolution of the people won't stop -- continue your peaceful revolution."

"The traitors will inevitably be betrayed," the 62-year-old Islamist leader was quoted as saying by Egypt Independent.
Morsi and the co-defendants are accused of invading 11 prisons, assaulting police and kidnapping four officers during the uprising that toppled long-time dictator Hosni Mubarak.
"Down with the military rule," other defendants chanted inside the dock.

The court adjourned the trial, one of four for Morsi, until February 24.
The 131 defendants are mostly members of the Muslim Brotherhood, including the group's Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, and Hamas and Hezbollah.
Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president, was removed by the army in July last year amid massive protests against his one-year turbulent rule.

Since his ouster, the Brotherhood - now declared a terrorist organisation - has been staging protests despite crackdowns that have killed more than 1,400 people.
Morsi is also facing separate trials on charges of inciting the killing of anti-government protesters in 2012, espionage and conspiring with Hamas and Hezbollah to commit terror acts, and insulting the judiciary.
He could be sentenced to death if convicted on several of the charges.