CAIRO, Feb 16 (Aswat Masriya) The defense of ousted President Mohamed Mursi and others has withdrawn from Sunday’s hearing in protest against the court’s disregard of its request to take down a glass cage in which the suspects were kept in.

The court said it will proceed with the hearing despite the defense attorneys’ withdrawal while the suspects strongly knocked on the glass wall and chanted anti-army slogans.

The suspects said they could not hear the prosecutors, but the head of the court insisted that the cage was not soundproof and that he tested it himself. 

"Are you afraid that the president will talk to his people?" Mursi asked from inside the cage.

The Islamist president and his top aides are accused of spying in collaboration with international bodies.

Egypt's army deposed Mursi in July in response to mass demonstrations against his rule.