CAIRO: The main lawyers representing Australian journalist Peter Greste and another Al-Jazeera reporter on trial in Cairo quit in court on Thursday, accusing the broadcaster of working against Egypt.

Greste, watching the proceedings from the caged dock, appeared taken aback when his lawyers announced to the judge that they were quitting the case, which has sparked international concern for the detained reporters.

The Australian is on trial with four other journalists for the broadcaster on charges of aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood and defaming Egypt.

Only three of the journalists are in prison, along with six other defendants in the case. The rest of the 20 defendants are abroad or in hiding.

In Thursday’s session, lead defense lawyer Farag Fathy said he and two colleagues also representing producer Baher Mohamed would no longer represent the reporters.

“Al-Jazeera is using my clients. I have e-mails from the channel telling me they don’t care about the defendants and care about insulting Egypt,” Fathy told the court.

He accused the channel of “fabricating quotes” and attributing them to him, in their coverage of the trial.