Qatar urges release of Egypt\'s Morsi

DOHA

Qatar expressed \"deep concern\" over a death sentence handed down by an Egyptian court against ousted Islamist president Mohammad Morsi and called for his release.

The United States has branded the sentencing of Egypt\'s first democratically elected president as politically motivated.

\"Doha adds its voice to the countries calling for the verdict to be quashed and Morsi released,\" said the statement on the official Qatar News Agency.

An Egyptian court Tuesday upheld a death sentence handed down against Morsi on charges of plotting jailbreaks and attacks on police during the country\'s 2011 uprising.

It also sentenced him to life in prison on charges of spying for Iran and militant groups including the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, several of whose leaders are based in Qatar.