Hundreds pray for ex-Egyptian president Morsi in Sharqia hometown

Crowds attended a memorial service held for Morsi and performed a funeral prayer in absentia amid heightened security.

Egypt's security agencies had refused to allow Morsi to be buried at his family's cemetery in his hometown, and instead had him interred at a Cairo cemetery.

Crowds chanted: "Down with the military rule!" and called for another uprising.

Egypt's interior ministry had declared a state of emergency in Sharqia province shortly after Morsi's death on Monday.

Morsi, 67, was elected president in 2012 in the country's first free elections following the ouster of longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

A military coup toppled Morsi in 2013 after massive protests. The military, led by then-defence minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, crushed the Brotherhood in a major crackdown and arrested Morsi and many of the group's leaders.

Rights groups accuse the Egyptian authorities of keeping Morsi in inhumane conditions in prison and refusing him treatment for diabetes.

The former president was held in solitary confinement for most of his six years in prison, which amounts to torture under international standards.

The 67-year-old was buried at 5am on Tuesday next to the graves of other leaders of the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

Only around 10 family members and close Morsi confidants were allowed to be present at the funeral.

A handful of mourners were seen entering the Cairo cemetery, accompanied by police, but journalists were prevented from going in.

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