THERE was fresh violence on the streets of Cairo after the trial of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi on charges of inciting murder was postponed after officials said bad weather had prevented him being flown to court.

The military-backed government has cracked down hard on Mr Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood since his overthrow, arresting almost its entire leadership and thousands of its backers as well as formally declaring it a terrorist organisation.

The case against Mr Mursi pertains to violence outside the presidential palace during unrest in late 2012 ignited by a decree that expanded his powers. Around a dozen people were killed at the time. Fourteen other Islamists are standing trial with Mr Mursi.

He had been due in court yesterday for the second session of his trial in which he could face the death penalty but fog in Alexandria where he is in jail prevented him being flown to court and his case was postponed until February 1.

Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim denied reports Mr Mursi had refused to attend after Essam el Erian, another Islamist politician on trial in the same case, told reporters in the courtroom he had not shown up for that reason.

Police yesterday arrested 17 supporters of Mr Mursi outside the police academy accused of rioting and security forces also closed off central Cairo's Tahrir Square.