Jeremy Corbyn urges 'independent' probe into death of Egypt's Morsi

Britain's main opposition leader has called for an investigation into the death of Egypt's first democratically elected president Mohamed Morsi after his dramatic collapse and death inside a Cairo courtroom.

Jeremy Corbyn said in an online statement on Tuesday that Morsi's death in custody must be "fully investigated".

"The UK government should back UN efforts to hold the authorities to account and speak out against the detention of thousands of political prisoners in Egypt," Corbyn tweeted.

Corbyn comments come after the United Nations urged an independent investigation into Morsi's death during the court hearing on Monday.

The spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called for a probe into whether the conditions Morsi faced during his nearly six years in custody had contributed to his death.

A group of British parliamentarians in March 2018 warned Morsi's detention conditions, particularly inadequate treatment for his diabetes and liver disease, could trigger "premature death".

Last year, Corbyn faced criticism in the British media for showing solidarity for Morsi supporters massacred by Egyptian security services.

Morsi, 67, was a senior member of the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, and was elected president in 2012 in the country's first free elections following the topping the year before of longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

The military overthrew Morsi in 2013 after massive protests and crushed the Brotherhood in a major crackdown, arresting Morsi and many others of the group's leaders.

During his six years in prison, Morsi, who was known to have diabetes, was often held in solitary confinement and was largely barred from receiving visitors.

His family was only allowed to visit three times. While in detention, Morsi continued to appear in court on a range of charges.

Rights groups have long accused the Egyptian authorities of keeping Morsi in inhumane conditions in prison and refusing him medical treatment.

Egypt denies the charges, and claims they are "politicised".

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