Morsi trial adjourned after chants

A judge in Cairo has adjourned the trial of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi along with 14 members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Proceedings were delayed by two hours after Morsi refused to wear a prison uniform, part of his refusal to recognise the court.

Once the hearing did get underway, the judge then had to halt the trial after chants by the defendants proved too disruptive to continue.

Morsi is facing charges of inciting the killing of protesters outside the presidential palace as opposition to his rule spread earlier this year.

Morsi replaced Hosni Mubarak as Egyptian president following a democratic election, but over the course of his 13-month rule he fell into conflict with a number of key institutions.

As discontent spread, the army stepped in and removed him from power in July.

Since then the interim government has cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood and has arrested hundreds of its members.

Cairo is on edge and many believe the trial will further deepen divisions within the country and lead to yet more instability and violence.

The former president was seen from a distance in civilian clothes in his first appearance in public since he was deposed on 3 July.

The former president and his co-defendants had been widely expected to use the occasion to underline what they see as the illegitimacy of his removal from power.

The trial had been due to take place at Tora prison on the other side of Cairo but had been switched late on Sunday, apparently to deter protesters.