An Egyptian court has sentenced 683 alleged supporters of the country's ousted Islamist president to death.
The move was taken during mass trial that included the Muslim Brotherhood's spiritual leader, defense lawyers said.
The judge, who awarded the death sentence, also reduced most of the death sentences handed to 529 defendants in a similar case in March, giving them life imprisonment.
According to Fox News, the judge, Said Youssef, said he was referring his ruling on the 683 death sentences for violence and the killing of policemen to the Grand Mufti, the top Islamic official.
Among those convicted and sentenced to death on Monday was Mohamed Badie, the Brotherhood's spiritual guide.
After Mufti's decision, the same court will hold another session on June 21 to issue the final verdicts.
