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17 sentenced in absentia to life in prison over clashes following Mursi's ouster
Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi (back) clash with anti-Mursi protesters, along Qasr Al Nil bridge, which leads to Tahrir Square, in Cairo July 22, 2013. REUTERS/Stringer
CAIRO, Aug 20 (Aswat Masriya) - A Cairo court sentenced in absentia on Wednesday 17 defendants to life in prison over violence in the Cairo neighbourhood of Manial.
An eighteenth defendant was sent to 15 years in prison. He was the only defendant tried in session in the court case.
The defendants were accused of attempted murder, murder, joining an illegal group, "thuggery" and possession of weapons.
Clashes erupted in Manial on August 3, 2013 between neighbourhood residents and Muslim Brotherhood protesters, leaving five killed.
Political violence has surged nationwide since the military ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July, 2013. At least 1500 Mursi supporters have been killed since then, while the death toll for security personnel is in hundreds.
