CAIRO, Mar 21 (Aswat Masriya) - An Egyptian appeals court rejected on Monday the Muslim Brotherhood supreme guide's request to change the judge presiding over a case involving him and 36 other defendants.

In the case known as "Rabaa Operations Room", 37 defendants including Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie are accused of running an "operations room ... to direct the Muslim Brotherhood group to resist the state during the Rabaa [Al-Adaweya] sit-in dispersal."

They are also accused of "spreading chaos" following Rabaa's dispersal and attempting to break into and set ablaze police stations, private property and churches.

Badie requested the change of judge on Sunday and accordingly the retrial was put on hold. He was instead fined EGP 2,000 (around $225).

Judge Moataz Khafagy, who is presiding over the case, told Aswat Masriya that he will decide on the date of the next trial session after the case's file is presented to him on Apr. 4.  

The Rabaa al-Adaweya sit-in was organised in support for former president Mohamed Mursi who was ousted by the military in July 2013 following protests against his rule.

Since Mursi's ouster, Egyptian authorities have led a crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood leaders and prominent figures, who have often found themselves behind bars or facing court cases. 

Badie is also facing a string of other charges in more than one pending court case.

Egypt listed the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation in December 2013 and insists it is behind the wave of militancy which has targeted security personnel since July 2013. The Brotherhood continuously denies the accusations.