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CAIRO (Reuters) - Prosecutors sought the death penalty on Tuesday in the trial of 26 men suspected of planning attacks in Egypt and said a foreign state was involved in the plot, linked to Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants.

The case has highlighted the worries of conservative Sunni Muslim states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia about the growing influence of Shi'ite Iran and groups such as Lebanon's Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and Syria.

Egypt alleges the accused planned attacks on foreign tourists and shipping in the Suez Canal.

"These attacks were planned by representatives of this foreign country that wants to spread its influence on the Arab and Muslim worlds. And Hezbollah is nothing but a tool used to carry out its wicked goals," prosecutor Amr Farouk told the emergency state security court.

"We demand the maximum punishment on the traitors."

Hezbollah, listed as a terrorist group by the United States, was formed with the backing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards during Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982.

The prosecutor called for death sentences for six of the defendants, charged with terrorism and espionage-related offences, a judicial source said.

Other charges against the 26 included giving information to a foreign organisation, plotting attacks inside Egypt and possession of explosive material.