Egypt to begin mass trial of Morsi backers

More than 1,200 supporters of Egypt's Mohamed Morsi will face charges starting from Saturday, the country's biggest trial since the Islamist president's ouster by the army in July, judicial sources said. The mass trial is part of a crackdown by Egypt's military-installed authorities targeting Morsi's Islamist supporters who remain steadfast in demanding his reinstatement. Morsi, Egypt's first elected and civilian president, was removed by the army last year. His ouster triggered widespread unrest across a deeply polarised country. About 500 defendants will be tried on Saturday, and another 700 are to face charges on Tuesday, according to AFP