Egypt's prosecutor-general ordered on Wednesday that 57 defendants be referred to the criminal court to stand trial on charges of vandalism and thuggery, said a prosecution statement.

The defendants, who support the Muslim Brotherhood and its ousted President Mohamed Mursi, are also accused of disrupting transportation and possessing bladed weapons.

They were arrested following different clashes that came after staging protests in support of Mursi, who was ousted by the military in July after mass protests against his one-year rule.