A son of ousted Egyptian president Mohammad Mursi was arrested in eastern Cairo on Saturday for "drug possession."

A son of ousted Egyptian president Mohammad Mursi was arrested in eastern Cairo on Saturday for "drug possession."

In a statement, the Qalioubiya Security Directorate said Abdullah Mursi and A. A, an employee, were arrested in a car in Obour, a commercial residential district in eastern Cairo.

According to the statement, the pair were arrested in possession of two marijuana cigarettes and were referred to prosecutors for investigation.

But the family of the ousted president described the arrest as an attempt to "tarnish the image of honorable people".

"The charges aim to tarnish the reputation of the sons of the president," Abdullah's brother, Osama, told media outlets.

He argued that the family had received warnings about attempts to fabricate charges against Mursi's sons.

Osama and his elder brother Ahmad have been banned by Egypt's military-backed authorities from travelling abroad. No reasons have been given for the move.