Cairo, Nov 4 (IANS): Egypt's deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was brought to a courthouse here Monday to face trial for inciting violence and the deaths of protesters, raising fears of renewed violence and clashes across the country.

Morsi is accused along with 14 top Muslim Brotherhood officials of inciting violence and the murder of protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012.

The area around the courthouse was tightly secured by several armoured vehicles and hundreds of soldiers and policemen, according to Xinhua.

Egypt is on high alert for the trial and nearly 20,000 policemen have been deployed to deal with any outbreak of violence.

In November 2012, Morsi issued a decree giving himself sweeping powers, prompting opponents to accuse him of betraying the ideals of the anti-Mubarak revolution.

A month later, deadly clashes erupted outside the presidential palace between the supporters and the opponents of the president. Morsi is facing allegations of inciting the violence.