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7/13/13, "Egypt announces criminal investigation of Mursi," Reuters, Saleh and Graff
"Egypt announced a criminal investigation on Saturday against deposed
Islamist president Mohamed Mursi, with prosecutors saying they were
examining complaints of spying, inciting violence and ruining the
economy.
Egypt's first freely elected leader has been held at an undisclosed
location since the army removed him from power on July 3, but has not
yet been charged with any crime. In recent days Washington has called
for him to be freed and for the authorities to stop arresting leaders of
his Muslim Brotherhood.
The public prosecutor's office issued a statement saying it had
received complaints against Mursi, eight other named Islamist figures
including top Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie, and others it did not
identify.
The complaints are a first step in the criminal process, allowing
prosecutors to begin an investigation that can lead to charges.
Announcing the step was unusual: typically prosecutors wait until
charges are filed before making public statements.
Badie and several other Brotherhood officials already face charges
for inciting violence that were announced earlier this week, but most of
them have not been arrested.
The prosecutors did not say who had made the complaints. Egyptian
law allows them to investigate complaints from police or any member of
the public.
Mursi's Brotherhood called on Saturday for more mass demonstrations
after a huge march broke up peacefully before dawn, ending a week in
which at least 90 people were killed....
Rich Gulf Arab states Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and
Kuwait, happy at the overthrow of the Brotherhood, have offered Egypt
$12 billion in cash, loans and fuel.
State news agency MENA said a shipment of 70,000 tonnes of diesel arrived in Alexandria on Saturday from Turkey and Sweden.
Egypt's interim authorities have set out a "road map" to restore
full civilian rule, setting out plans for a new constitution and
parliamentary elections in about six months, to be followed by a
presidential vote....
Egypt's crisis has raised fears over security in the lawless Sinai
peninsula bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, where
militants attack security forces checkpoints almost daily.
The headline in the state-run Al Gomhuria newspaper read: "Sinai
Purification Operation within Days", referring to a possible army
offensive against militants in the region.
But a senior army officer, who asked not to be named, said this was
unlikely to take place immediately because forces are now focused on
keeping the peace during political turmoil.
Security sources said on Saturday a Palestinian had been arrested in
Egypt on suspicion of carrying out attacks on a natural gas pipeline."
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