The bestselling author Alaa Al Aswany has said he is being sued by military prosecutors in Egypt for insulting the president, armed forces and judiciary.

Aswany, who lives in the US, said the lawsuit was connected to his last novel - The Republic, As If - and columns he had written for Deutsche Welle Arabic. He condemned the case as a "clear violation" of Egypt's constitution.

The Republic, As If criticizes Egypt's state institutions, parliament, constitution and courts.