A court in Minya has passed death sentences on 683 supporters of former president Mohamed Morsi, including leading members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Islamist group's Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie was among the defendants found guilty of attacking Adawa police station and killing a police officer, Mamdouh Kotb Mohamed Kotb, on 14 August 2013 -- following the dispersal of pro-Morsi sit-ins at Rabaa and Nahda squares.

They were also found guilty of committing violence, rioting, destroying public and private property, attacking police officers, and inciting violence.

The verdicts must be ratified by the grand mufti before they can be carried out.

The court has set 21 June for the final verdict to be passed, after the grand mufti has made his assessment.

The law allows the verdicts to be appealed. 

March verdict

The same judge sentenced 529 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood to death in March causing a public outcry locally and internationally.

On Monday, he confirmed 37 of the death sentences and commuted 492 others to life imprisonment upon the instructions of the grand mufti.

The defendants were accused of killing a police officer and storming Matay police station on 14 August 2013.

Khaled El-Koumi, lawyer for one of the defendants sentenced to death, told Ahram Online that he would appeal against the verdict as soon the court has issued its reasoning within the next 60 days.