Egypt jails 30 Morsi backers for rioting

An Egyptian court sentenced on Sunday 30 people to more than three years in prison for violent protests in support of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, judicial officials said. The military-installed authorities have engaged in a sweeping crackdown against Morsi's supporters and his Muslim Brotherhood since his ouster in July. The crackdown has left dead more than 1,400 people, and thousands have been jailed. More than 1,000 Morsi supporters have been convicted in mass trials, including 529 sentenced to death last month. On Sunday, the Cairo court found the defendants guilty of rioting, blocking roads and taking part in violence at a February protest against trials that Morsi faces, including for incitement to kill protesters during his presidency. They were also accused of being members of a "terrorist group," the officials said, indicating they belonged to the Brotherhood. The Islamist movement has been designated as a "terrorist group" by the military-installed authorities, which blame it for a deadly bombing north of Cairo in December. Source: AFP