Egypt police arrest ex-minister under Morsi

Egyptian police on Tuesday arrested a former minister under Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, officials said, as authorities press a months-long crackdown on the deposed leader's supporters. Bassem Ouda, who served in Morsi's government as minister of supply and internal trade, was arrested after being found hiding in a soap factory, the officials said. Police have arrested other former ministers who belonged to Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement, as well as much of the Islamist group's leadership. Ouda, like other senior Brotherhood figures, was wanted for allegedly inciting violence. Fourteen suspected supporters of Morsi who were on trial for allegedly taking part in violent protests were meanwhile acquitted on Sunday. At least 1,000 people, most of them Morsi supporters, have been killed in clashes with police and soldiers since the military ousted him in July amid mass protests against his turbulent year-long rule. More than 2,000 have been arrested, and some are now standing trial. Morsi, the country's first freely elected leader, is on trial for alleged involvement in the deaths of protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012. Source: AFP