Ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi is to stand trial for "incitement to murder", state media reported without giving a date for the procedings.

The prosecutor, Hesham Barakat, referred Morsi and 14 other Brotherhood members to a Cairo criminal court on charges of "committing acts of violence, and inciting killing and thuggery", the state news agency reported on Sunday.

The charges relate to violence outside the presidential palace last December, after Morsi had ignited protesters' rage by expanding his powers.

At least seven people were killed in the ensuing clashes.

Morsi is also being investigated over his escape from jail during the 2011 uprising against former President Hosni Mubarak.

Morsi was overthrown by the army on July 3, just a year into his four-year term, following mass protests against his rule.

Since then, the authorities have mounted a fierce crackdown against his Muslim Brotherhood, rounding up most of its top leaders.

The security forces have also killed hundreds of Morsi supporters during protests since his downfall.

In turn, the government accuses the Brotherhood of committing acts of violence. Around 100 members of the security forces have also been killed since August 14, when the police used force to break up pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo.