Egypt court upholds life sentence of Brotherhood leader

An Egyptian court on Wednesday upheld a life sentence handed down in 2016 against Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie over deadly clashes after former president Mohamed Morsi's ouster, judicial officials said.

The court of cassation, whose rulings cannot be appealed, upheld the verdict against Badie, the Brotherhood's spiritual guide, and eight others over clashes in the Suez Canal city of Ismailiya that killed three people.

The court also confirmed three-year jail sentences against 19 defendants and 10-year terms against 29 others.

After the army ousted Morsi in July 2013, Egypt was rocked by clashes between his supporters and security forces, with the authorities accusing Brotherhood leaders of calling for "violent protests" demanding his reinstatement.

A government crackdown on Morsi supporters since his ouster has left at least 1,400 people dead and 15,000 jailed.

Hundreds have been sentenced to death, although many have appealed and won retrials.

Badie is facing charges in more than 35 trials, according to his lawyers. He was given death sentences in three other cases, but those rulings have been scrapped.