Egyptian court hands down 6-year prison terms for 33 supporters of ousted Islamist president

CAIRO – Egyptian officials say a court in Alexandria has sentenced 33 supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi to six years in prison each over clashes with opponents last December.

Judicial officials say the court in the Mediterranean city on Monday also fined each defendant 50,000 Egyptian pounds (about $7,100). The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

Since Morsi's ouster by the military last July, Egypt has seen a heavy crackdown on his supporters, with several thousand detained and hundreds killed in political violence.

The officials say the 33 were convicted of protesting without permit and assaulting police on Dec. 20.

Morsi's supporters and opponents took to the streets in Alexandria that day, pelting each other with rocks.