Egypt’s deposed Muslim Brotherhood president Mohammad Mursi was brought Monday to a courthouse to face trial over protester deaths.

The Egyptian court on Monday adjourned to January 8 the trial of Muslim Brotherhood president Mohammad Mursi over his alleged involvement in the death of protesters during his year in power.

Mursi, in his first public appearance since the army deposed him in July, rejected the proceedings and told the court: "I am Dr. Mohammad Mursi, the president of the republic... This court is illegal."

He slammed his overthrow by the army and called on military leaders to face trial.

"This was a military coup. The leaders of the coup should be tried. A coup is treason and a crime," Mursi said.

Defiantly, Mursi arrived in court wearing a suit rather than the customary white detention clothes.

Two of his co-defendants, senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders Essam al-Erian and Mohammad al-Beltagui, chanted "Down with military rule" at the start of the hearing, and applauded Mursi when he walked in.

Mursi came to power in June 2012 in the country's first free elections, made possible by a popular uprising a year earlier.
Outside the court complex, dozens of Mursi supporters gathered.
Mursi, who the army has held at a secret location since his July 3 ouster, and 14 others are accused of inciting the deaths of protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012, which could lead to the death penalty or life in prison.