CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s top prosecutor referred yesterday toppled Islamist President Mohammed Morsi to trial for conspiring with the Palestinian group Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and others to carry out a campaign of violence to destabilise the country following his ouster.

Prosecutors claim that President Morsi and his aides revealed state secrets to the militant groups and to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Morsi and 35 others, including the Muslim Brotherhood’s top three leaders, are also accused of sponsoring terrorism and carrying out combat training and other acts to undermine Egypt’s stability.

The charges, which refer to incidents as far back as 2005, carry the death penalty. The prosecution statement was entitled: “The biggest case of conspiracy in Egypt’s history goes to the criminal court”.

“After the removal of defendant Mohammed Morsi from office, and the change in the political scene in Egypt, the Brotherhood and those terrorist groups carried out explosions, attacks against the military forces, the police in Sinai to terrorise the Egyptians, create chaos, undermine the country’s independence… and incite sedition between the people to trigger a civil war in Egypt with the aim of bringing the ousted president back to office and reclaiming the Brotherhood’s grip” on power, the prosecution’s statement read.

Mohammed el-Damati, a defence lawyer for Brotherhood members, said the lawyers have not attended any of their clients’ interrogations and have no idea about the details of the charges. Among leading members also indicted in the case were top Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie and deputy Khairat el-Shater, both also facing other trials. A second deputy, Mahmoud Ezzat, is also charged, but remains on the run. Also charged was Saad el-Katatni, head of the Brotherhood’s political party.

No trial date has been set in the new case. Morsi is already on trial on charges of inciting the murder of his opponents while in office. He was removed from office in July by the military, following days of mass protests demanding he step down. Morsi spent months in an undisclosed location before he appeared in court to face the incitement charges in November. That trial resumes in January.

“All the trials (against the Brotherhood) are political that have taken on legal covers,” el-Damati said.

The new charges yesterday come as Egypt continues to deal with the aftermath of Morsi’s ouster. His supporters have maintained protests since his removal from office, demanding his reinstatement. The rallies have dwindled in strength, however, under a continued crackdown since last summer, with thousands arrested and hundreds killed in the violent breakup of protests.

El-Damati predicted that the trial won’t take place until after the referendum on the amended constitution, to be held on January 14-15, because authorities want to ensure calm, he said.

The constitution is a significantly amended version of one that was adopted by a predominantly Islamist panel last year. The adoption of the new charter is the first step in a political road map announced in July by Egypt’s military chief when he removed Morsi.

The Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party, yesterday called for a boycott of the upcoming referendum. Other allies of Morsi, including youth groups which have held near daily protests since his ouster, have said they

will demonstrate on referendum days.

Government officials had warned of attempts to create chaos on the day of the referendum, and State media reported that as many as 200,000 members of the security forces will be assigned to protect polling stations nationwide.