Egypt expels Al Jazeera journalists in crackdown on Qatari channel

Egypt deported three Al Jazeera journalists on Sunday, days after the Qatari-owned channel carried appeals from leaders of ousted President Mohamed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood to stage protests against the army-backed government.

The Gulf emirate was a strong financial backer of Brotherhood rule and vehemently opposes the army's overthrow of Morsi and the ensuing bloody crackdown on his movement. Al Jazeera's offices in Cairo have been closed since July 3, when they were raided by security forces hours after Morsi was toppled, although the channel, broadcast from Qatar, can still be seen in Egypt. (Reuters)