Cairo, Oct 15 (IANS): An Egyptian court on Thursday sentenced 10 convicts to death over charges of establishing a terror group linked to Al Qaeda.

The 10 were among 68 defendants tried at Cairo's Criminal Court, Xinhua news agency reported.

The sentence will still have to be reviewed by the Grand Mufti.

The convicts were accused of "forming and running a terrorist organization linked to Al Qaeda, targeting state properties and its armed forces, police apparatus and citizens, in order to spread disorder and undermine social peace."

The sentencing occurred against the background of a massive "war against terrorism" declared by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.

However, the court acquitted Mohamed al-Zawahri, brother of Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri, over the charge of running the terrorist group affiliated with his brother. Fifteen others were also acquitted.

Twenty-two others were sentenced to 15-25 years in prison and another to one year in prison.

Cases were dropped against three defendants who died during trial.