Egypt appeals court acquits Mursi-era PM

An Egyptian appeals court on Sunday overturned a one-year jail sentence against deposed Islamist president Mohamed Mursi's former prime minister Hisham Qandil, his lawyer told AFP.

Qandil, seen as a moderate and who was involved in failed talks with the military after Morsi's overthrow in July last year, was arrested in December while trying to flee the country.

The court's ruling means he will be released, his lawyer said, as no other cases are pending against him.

"The Court of Cassation accepted Hisham Qandil's appeal," Mohamed Selim al-Awa told AFP, calling the latest ruling "a final acquittal".

"He doesn't face any other charges in any other cases, and he will be released after all (legal) procedures are completed."

Qandil was originally sentenced to one year in prison for not carrying out a court order when he was premier to renationalize a private company.

Since Mursi's ouster, a government crackdown on his supporters has killed 1,400 people in street clashes and imprisoned 15,000 Islamists and protesters.