Egypt court quashes life sentence against Brotherhood leader

Egypt's high court on Tuesday overturned a life sentence against the Muslim Brotherhood's supreme guide Mohamed Badie only a day after he had been sentenced to 25 years in prison for "planning violent attacks" during a retrial on Monday.

Badie was part of a group of 37 people accused of conspiring to stir unrest during protests that followed the July 2013 military-led removal of Egypt's former president, Mohamed Morsi, who hailed from the Brotherhood.

The court had condemned Badie to a life term along with Mahmoud Ghozlan, a Brotherhood spokesman, and Hossam Abubakr, a member of its guidance bureau, while 13 defendants were sentenced to five years in jail.

The court on Monday acquitted 21 others, including Gehad Haddad, an international spokesman for the Brotherhood said.

The retrial and appeal came after Egypt's court of cassation scrapped a 2015 ruling under which Badie and 13 others were condemned to death, and 34 defendants given life terms.

Badie is being prosecuted in more than 35 trials, according to his lawyers. He received three death sentences in other cases but those rulings have also been scrapped.

The court of cassation has cancelled scores of death sentences against Morsi supporters including against the deposed president himself.