CAIRO — Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi has accused the military chief who deposed him of treason and says in a message read by lawyers that the country cannot return to stability until the coup is reversed and those behind it are tried.

The lawyers read the message Wednesday at a news conference, a day after meeting Morsi in prison.

In the message, Morsi says Defense Minister Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi committed "treason against the whole nation."

Morsi said there can be no stability unless "the military coup is eliminated and those responsible for shedding Egyptians' blood are held accountable."

Morsi was moved to the prison last week after the first session of his trial on charges of inciting murder. Previously he was held in secret military detention since his ouster.