Head of Egypt's Cairo Court of Appeal has delegated a judge to investigate accusations against Hussein Tantawi, a former powerful general, of killing protesters, local media reported Tuesday.

Judge Tharwat Hammad is assigned to probe the charges filed against Tantawi, former head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which had ruled Egypt for more than a year before Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took office in June.

Former Chief of Staff Sami Annan, also hailing from the SCAF, and former head of the military police Hamdi Badeen are involved in the same charges.

The accusations say the military officials killed peaceful protesters in a series of incidents, which were dubbed by media Mohamed Mahmoud, Maspero, Cabinet, Ballon theatre, and Port Said Stadium.

The SCAF took over power from Hosni Mubarak in February 2011 after the ex-president was toppled by mass protests. The council handed over power to Morsi who won presidency in the country's first free election.