CAIRO, Sept 30 (Aswat Masriya) – The Cairo Criminal Court sentenced on Tuesday 63 defendants to 15 years in prison and a 20 thousand Egyptian-pound fine for violence which took place at Cairo's Azbakeya neighbourhood last October.

Five more defendants were served a 10-year prison sentence in the same case. 

The defendants were accused of murder, attempted murder, assembly, attempting to break into Tahrir Square, assaulting citizens, vandalising public properties and resisting the authorities.

Clashes erupted nationwide on October 6 last year. Pro-army demonstrators gathered in Tahrir Square to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the October war. Ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi's supporters meanwhile marched toward the square and faced off with security forces in clashes which left over 50 killed.