Egypt’s Mursi claims he was kidnapped before ousting

Deposed Islamist Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi said he was kidnapped and held by the Republican Guard at a naval base a day before the military ousted him in July, his lawyers told reporters on Wednesday.

Mursi's lawyers said he intends to sue the army-installed authorities over his ouster on July 3.

“The president plans to take legal measures against the coup, and this will be up to the defence team in the near future,” Mohamed al-Damati said, after visiting Mursi in jail with a team of lawyers on Monday.

“There are complaints which will be presented to the prosecutor general (to say) that what happened was a crime,” he said.

Damati read on television what he said was a letter from the Islamist leader, who is still being detained, to the Egyptian people.

For the first time, Mursi indicated that he was held against his will as early as July 2, a day before the army announced his removal following mass protests against his rule.

Few details had emerged on Mursi’s whereabouts since army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ousted him on July 3 and announced plans for elections.

Damati also said complaints could be filed to the administrative court to annul “the move to by General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi” to topple Mursi.

“The kind Egyptian people should know that I have been kidnapped forcibly and against my will since July 2 and until July 5 in a Republican Guard house until I and my aide were moved again forcibly to a naval base belonging to the armed forces for four full months,” Mursi was quoted as saying.

Mursi and other Islamists appeared in court on Nov. 4 on charges of inciting violence in connection with the death of about a dozen protesters at the presidential palace in December.

Damati said Mursi still refused to recognize the court which is trying him at a police academy.

(With AFP and Reuters)