US 'deeply concerned' over Mohamed Mursi death sentence bid by Egyptian court

The United States is "deeply concerned" about an Egyptian court decision to seek the death penalty for former President Mohamed Mursi, a State Department official said on Sunday.

"We are deeply concerned by yet another mass death sentence handed down by an Egyptian court to more than 100 defendants, including former President Mursi," the official said after the court's ruling was announced on Saturday, drawing condemnation from rights group Amnesty International. "We have consistently spoken out against the practice of mass trials and sentences, which are conducted in a manner that is inconsistent with Egypt's international obligations and the rule of law," the official said. 

A final decision is expected on June 2.