Egyptian Court Sentences 2 Morsi Supporters to Death

Supporters of former Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi, standing trial on charges of violence that broke out in Alexandria last year, react after two fellow supporters were sentenced to death, in a court in Alexandria, March 29, 2014.

An Egyptian court has sentenced two supporters of former president Mohamed Morsi to death in connection with violence that followed his ouster last year.

Both men were on trial for throwing two people off the roof of a building in the coastal city of Alexandria last July, during mass protests demanding Morsi's reinstatement.

Amateur video footage of the two young people being thrown off the building was widely broadcast.

Egypt's interim authorities have been cracking down on supporters of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and Mr. Morsi, who has been in custody since he was removed from office about nine months ago.

A court in the Egyptian city of Minya recently sentenced 529 Muslim Brotherhood members to death for murdering a police officer, attacking a police station and other acts of violence. In a separate proceeding in Minya, nearly 700 Brotherhood members went on trial on chargers including murder and inciting violence.

Egyptian authorities have labeled the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group and have arrested many of its leaders.

Some information for this report comes from AP, AFP and Reuters.