Mohammed Morsi. Photo: YouTube.

FOX News – An investigating judge has ordered the detention of Egypt’s ousted president over alleged contacts with Hamas to help in his escape from prison in 2011, the official state news agency reported Friday in the first official word on his status since a military coup on July 3. The MENA news agency said Mohammed Morsi has been detained for 15 days for investigation into the charges. His detention can be extended as the inquiry continues. The news agency indicated that Morsi has already been interrogated.

The announcement comes after military strongman Gen. Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi called for mass demonstrations Friday to oppose what he called “terrorism,” a clear reference to Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood’s spiritual leader responded by calling el-Sissi a “traitor” and charging that the coup led by el-Sissi was worse than destroying the Kaaba in Mecca, the holiest site in Islam. The Brotherhood also called for mass protests on Friday, escalating fears of clashes between the two opposing groups of demonstrators or with the military, which has pledged to keep order and prevent violence.

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