A Cairo criminal court imposed a media ban on the espionage trial of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi during Tuesday's session.

The trial of 36 Muslim Brotherhood leaders, including Morsi, was adjourned to 28 April to allow witness testimonies to be heard and evidence to be collected.

The defendants are accused of collaborating with overseas organisations to commit acts of terrorism in Egypt, revealing defence secrets to a foreign country, funding terrorists and organising military training "to achieve the purposes of the international organisation of the Brotherhood".

Morsi, who was removed from power by the army in July 2013 amid mass nationwide protests against his year-long rule, also faces a number of other charges in separate trials, including jail break during the January 25 revolution and inciting the murder and torture of opposition protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012.