MENA (Egypt), NEW YORK TIMES (USA), RT, AP
CAIRO – Ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is being detained over alleged ties with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, and questioned on related charges of murder and kidnapping.
A top Cairo court has ordered that Morsi be questioned on whether he collaborated with Hamas for his escape – along with other top Muslim Brotherhood leaders – from a prison in early 2011 during the 18-day revolt that toppled Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian publicly-funded news agency MENA reports.
It is one of the first official reports of the fate of the former Egyptian President who was ousted on July 3. State accusations against Morsi include killing prisoners and officers as well as kidnapping soldiers.
Morsi had been kept in an undisclosed location since being deposed. His detention can be extended as the inquiry continues, according to AP. The news comes as supporters and opponents of Morsi prepare for potentially tense national protests on Friday.
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Anti-Morsi protest in Cairo on July 7 – Photo: S. Behn
Meanwhile, RT reports that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to abandon its plan to restart negotiations about a $4.8 billion loan to Egypt – on the grounds that the country needs to first regain political stability.
However, aid from the United States will continue to reach Egypt: By deciding not to offer a declaration on whether the July 3 overthrow was indeed a coup dӎtat, the Obama administration has allowed for the funneling of $1.5 billion in annual American aid to Egypt to continue, according to the New York Times.
