Morsi "abducted" says family

The family of ousted Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi has claimed he has been abducted by the country's military.

Morsi's family, who has had no contact with him since his removal from office on 3 July, released a statement on 22 July saying it held the army accountable for the former president's "safety and security".

Egypt's interim authorities insist that Morsi, who hasn't been seen in public for almost three weeks, is being detained in a "safe place". The location has not been disclosed and it is believed that Morsi is being held without charge.

Morsi's daughter Shaimaa says her family is taking legal measures against the military, appealing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the overthrow of the Islamist president.

Morsi's son Osama claims his father's detention is in contravention of the "most basic of human rights conventions", describing the army chief General Sisi – who announced Morsi's expulsion on 3 July – as "an international criminal."

Meanwhile violent clashes between Morsi supporters and opponents continue throughout the city. Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement refuses to recognise the military-backed administration, led by interim president Adly Mansour, and is organising street protests in the capital on an almost daily basis. However large sections of Egyptian society support Sisi for overthrowing Morsi, who was elected by the small majority in a run-off election just over a year ago.

The United States and the European Union's foreign ministers have been joined by several other countries in calling for Morsi to be released.