CAIRO, Feb 24 (Aswat Masriya) An Egyptian court sentenced on Monday 19 Azhar students who belong to the Muslim Brotherhood to five years in prison and fined them 100,000 Egyptian pounds each over clashes that happened last December.

An Egyptian court ordered on Monday that university guards return to work after interim Prime Minister Hazem el-Bebalwi had approved that police forces be deployed outside of universities for security purposes.  

The trial of 55 others in the same case was adjourned to March 17.

The defendants are accused of thuggery, disturbing traffic, attacking police forces, resisting the authorities and protesting without permit.

They were also accused of belonging to an armed terrorist group whose purpose is to threaten national peace and security and vandalize public and private property.

Egyptian universities have seen many clashes since the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July.