Egypt's prosecution said it launched Saturday an inquiry into criminal complaints against ousted President Mohamed Morsi and senior members of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), from which Morsi hails, local media reported Sunday.

The complaints include spying, inciting killing protesters, attacking military barracks and damaging the Egyptian economy, prosecution spokesman Adel Saad was quoted as saying in a statement by state-run news agency MENA.

The complaints are also against the MB's top leader Mohamed Badie, the group's ex-leader Mahdi Akef, deputy head of the MB's political wing Freedom and Justice Party, Essam al-Erian, ex- member of the recently dissolved Shura council (upper house) Mohamed Beltagi, and Islamic preacher Safwat Hegazy.

Morsi was ousted by the army on July 3 after he failed to respond to millions of protesters who demanded his removal due to poorly running the country in the past year. He is now said be to detained by the military in a "safe place."

The United States calls for his release from detention at an unknown place, while Germany also suggested on Friday that the International Committee of the Red Cross have an access to him