Egypt court again withdraws from MB leaders' trial

The Cairo Criminal Court on Wednesday withdrew again from the trial of Muslim Brotherhood (MB) chief Mohamed Badie and his two deputies, Khairat al-Shater and Rashad Bayoumi, for allegedly killing protesters in July, citing disorder in the courtroom, official news agency MENA reported.

Chief of the MB's Freedom and Justice Party Mohamed Saad al- Katatni was also on trial.

They are accused of killing and inciting violence against protesters surrounding the Brotherhood headquarters in Moqattam district of Cairo during the June 30 protests, which left nine killed and more than 90 wounded.

On Oct. 29, the same court recused itself from an earlier trial of them citing "uneasiness."

Amid tight security, Badie and the other defendants chanted " God is great" and "down with military rule" at the opening of the trial along with the attendees in the courtroom.

They interrupted the proceedings repeatedly, denouncing the charges against them and raising their four fingers, a political gesture in support of the Rabaa al-Adawiya sit-in that was dispersed in August by security forces in a crackdown which left hundreds dead.

A state of disorder prevailed in the courtroom, as verbal clashes erupted between the Islamists' families and the journalists, who chanted "Down with the guide rule," in reference to Badie.

Appearing for the first time after being detained in August, Badie denied Monday the accusation against his group of inciting violence and murdering protesters during the riot in El-Bahr Aazam neighborhood of Giza governorate which killed at least five people.

Since the Egyptian military toppled President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, more than 2,000 Islamists, including Morsi himself and top leaders of the MB, were detained over inciting violence, murdering peaceful protesters and possessing unlicensed weapons.