Cairo — An investigating judge has ordered the detention of Egypt's ousted president, Mohammed Morsi, over alleged contacts with Hamas to help in his escape from prison in 2011, the official state news agency reported on Friday.

An investigating judge ordered him imprisoned for 15 days on formal charges, according to a report on the Web site of the state newspaper, Al Ahram. His detention can be extended as the inquiry continues.

The nation's military ousted Morsi, the country's first democratically-elected president, in early July after days of mass demonstrations. He has been held in detention since then.