Egypt to try hundreds of civilians in military courts

(Reuters) - An Egyptian prosecutor on Monday referred to a military court at least 339 alleged supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, including four top leaders, judicial sources said, as the state expands a crackdown against political opponents. Egypt expanded the jurisdiction of military courts in October to try civilians accused of acts ranging from attacking state facilities to blocking roads. That followed some of the worst assaults on security forces since last year's overthrow of President Mohammed Mursi of the Brotherhood. The practice is seen by critics as another clampdown on dissent by a government that has jailed thousands of Brothers and targeted other activists. It is a controversial issue in Egypt, where the armed forces play an influential role in both political and economic spheres. President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi was previously chief of the army, which toppled Mursi after protests against his rule.