Egypt`s deposed President Mohammed Morsi has arrived at a court compound in Cairo amid tight security for the resumption of his trial, reports say.

Mr Morsi and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood figures are accused of inciting the killing of protesters outside a presidential palace in December 2012.

He was removed by the army last July after demonstrations against his rule.

His supporters have since held regular protests calling for his reinstatement.

Last Friday at least 11 people died in clashes between police and pro-Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators across Egypt.

A helicopter carrying some of the defendants arrived at the National Police Academy complex in Cairo for the hearing early on Wednesday, reporters said.

Security outside the compound is very heavy with three cordons in place, the BBC`s Bethany Bell reports.

Egyptian media said thousands of police were on alert and TV pictures showed some pro-Morsi protesters being arrested as they waved the four-finger salute adopted by supporters of the ousted president.

A Brotherhood-led protest march is due to take place to coincide with the latest hearing.

Mr Morsi, who was flown from Burj al-Arab prison near Alexandria, also faces several other charges ranging from fraud to colluding with foreign militants in a terrorist plot.

He is due to appear in court again at the end of January, accused with some 130 others of murdering policemen during a mass breakout from a Cairo prison in January 2011 shortly before the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak.

Human rights groups have dismissed some of the allegations against him as preposterous.

Egyptian officials insist Mr Morsi will be given a fair trial but lawyers trying to defend him say they have been denied access to him.

He first appeared in court in early November amid chaotic scenes.

Speaking from behind bars, he insisted he was still the president and was being held against his will.

He refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the court and would not wear a prison uniform.

Some Egyptian journalists responded with calls for his execution.

If he does not agree to appoint a lawyer at Wednesday`s hearing, the court will have to decide whether to appoint one on his behalf, correspondents say.

Although Mr Morsi won the presidency in a democratic election, he fell out with key institutions during his 13 months in power.

The interim government has since cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood, classifying it as a terrorist organisation and arresting thousands of members. At least one thousand people have been killed in clashes with security forces.

Mr Morsi`s supporters say he and other senior Brotherhood leaders are the victims of politically motivated prosecutions.

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