White House 'Deeply Troubled' by Morsi Sentencing

The White House branded Egypt's sentencing of former president Mohamed Morsi as politically motivated Tuesday, in a sharp rebuke of its uneasy military ally.

"We are deeply troubled by the politically motivated sentences that have been handed down against former president Morsi and several others by an Egyptian court today," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

A court earlier upheld the death penalty for Morsi's role in the 2011 uprising against the military-backed government and sentenced him to life in prison on spying charges.

Current President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi -- formerly the army chief -- ousted the Muslim Brotherhood's Morsi in July 2013 after mass protests calling for an end to his divisive one-year rule.

Washington has since lifted a ban on arms shipments to Egypt, but has been critical of mass trials and the prosecution of Morsi and his allies. 

"The United States has repeatedly raised concerns about the detention and sentencing of a variety of political figures in Egypt" said Earnest. 

"We are concerned that proceedings have been conducted in a way that is not only contrary to universal values but also damaging to stability that all Egyptians deserve."