Morsi charged with leaking secrets to Qatar

Morsi was charged Saturday for allegedly endangering Egypt's national security by providing Qatar and its Al Jazeera news channel with sensitive state documents, the Egyptian state prosecutor said.

No date has been set for Morsi's new trial. A number of his aides are also facing the same charges. Morsi is already being tried in several other separate cases, facing allegations including the killing of protestors during his time as president. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

Egyptian security sources had previously indicated they were investigating Morsi in connection with documents they allege were leaked to Qatar and the international news network Al Jazeera, which is based in the Gulf Arab state.

Qatar has supported Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Relations between Qatar and Egypt have deteriorated ever since Egypt's then army chief, now president, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi deposed Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected leader, following mass protests against his year-long rule.

Egyptian authorities labeled the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization after toppling Morsi's government in July 2013 and have subsequently arrested, jailed and tried many of its supporters, sentencing hundreds to death.

Hundreds of people have also been killed in crackdowns on pro-Brotherhood protests.

Three Al Jazeera journalists working in Egypt were earlier this year given lengthy jail sentences.

se/hc (AFP, dpa, Reuters)