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Egypt President Morsi warns of army ultimatum 'confusion' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi says he was not consulted by the army before it set a 48-hour ultimatum to resolve the country's deadly crisis. | |
Mr Morsi said a part of the statement "may cause confusion in the complex national scene". He vowed to stick to his "national reconciliation" plan. | |
The army has warned it will intervene if the government and its opponents fail to heed "the will of the people". | The army has warned it will intervene if the government and its opponents fail to heed "the will of the people". |
However, it denies that the ultimatum amounts to a coup. | However, it denies that the ultimatum amounts to a coup. |
Meanwhile, Egypt's state news agency Mena reported early on Tuesday that Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr had submitted his resignation. | Meanwhile, Egypt's state news agency Mena reported early on Tuesday that Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr had submitted his resignation. |
If accepted, he would join at least five other ministers who have already reportedly resigned over the political crisis. | If accepted, he would join at least five other ministers who have already reportedly resigned over the political crisis. |
On Sunday, millions rallied nationwide, urging the president to step down. | On Sunday, millions rallied nationwide, urging the president to step down. |
Large protests continued on Monday with activists storming and ransacking Cairo's Muslim Brotherhood headquarters - the group from which the president hails. | Large protests continued on Monday with activists storming and ransacking Cairo's Muslim Brotherhood headquarters - the group from which the president hails. |
President Morsi's opponents accuse him of putting the Brotherhood's interests ahead of the country's as a whole. | President Morsi's opponents accuse him of putting the Brotherhood's interests ahead of the country's as a whole. |
He became Egypt's first Islamist president on 30 June 2012, after winning an election considered free and fair following the 2011 revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak. | He became Egypt's first Islamist president on 30 June 2012, after winning an election considered free and fair following the 2011 revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak. |
US President Barack Obama - currently on a tour of Africa - called Mr Morsi to encourage him to respond to the protesters' concerns. | US President Barack Obama - currently on a tour of Africa - called Mr Morsi to encourage him to respond to the protesters' concerns. |
Mr Obama "underscored that the current crisis can only be resolved through a political process," the White House said in a statement". | Mr Obama "underscored that the current crisis can only be resolved through a political process," the White House said in a statement". |
Coup in the making? | Coup in the making? |
In an announcement read out on Egyptian TV, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, defence minister and head of the armed forces, described the protests as an "unprecedented" expression of the popular will. | In an announcement read out on Egyptian TV, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, defence minister and head of the armed forces, described the protests as an "unprecedented" expression of the popular will. |
If the people's demands were not met, he said, the military would have to take responsibility for a plan for the future. | If the people's demands were not met, he said, the military would have to take responsibility for a plan for the future. |
But while he said the army would not get involved in politics or government, his words were seen by many as a coup in the making. | But while he said the army would not get involved in politics or government, his words were seen by many as a coup in the making. |
Noisy celebrations erupted in Cairo as protesters interpreted the army's ultimatum as spelling the end of Mr Morsi's rule. | Noisy celebrations erupted in Cairo as protesters interpreted the army's ultimatum as spelling the end of Mr Morsi's rule. |
Tens of thousands of flag-waving supporters of Tamarod (Rebel) - the opposition movement behind the protests - partied in Cairo's Tahrir Square late into the night. | Tens of thousands of flag-waving supporters of Tamarod (Rebel) - the opposition movement behind the protests - partied in Cairo's Tahrir Square late into the night. |
Meanwhile senior Brotherhood figure Muhammad al-Biltaji urged pro-Morsi supporters to "call their families in all Egyptian governorates and villages to be prepared to take to the streets and fill squares" to support their president. | Meanwhile senior Brotherhood figure Muhammad al-Biltaji urged pro-Morsi supporters to "call their families in all Egyptian governorates and villages to be prepared to take to the streets and fill squares" to support their president. |
"Any coup of any sort will only pass over our dead bodies," he said to a roar from thousands gathered outside the Rab'ah al-Adawiyah mosque in Cairo's Nasr district. | "Any coup of any sort will only pass over our dead bodies," he said to a roar from thousands gathered outside the Rab'ah al-Adawiyah mosque in Cairo's Nasr district. |
There were reports of gun clashes between rival factions in the city of Suez, east of the capital, on Monday night. | There were reports of gun clashes between rival factions in the city of Suez, east of the capital, on Monday night. |
The army later issued a second statement on its Facebook page emphasising that it "does not aspire to rule and will not overstep its prescribed role". | The army later issued a second statement on its Facebook page emphasising that it "does not aspire to rule and will not overstep its prescribed role". |
According to Tuesday's presidential statement, President Morsi was not consulted ahead of the ultimatum announcement. It said that such action "may cause confusion in the complex national scene". | |
"The presidency asserts that the presidency is going on in its pre-planned path to hold a comprehensive national reconciliation," the presidency statement said. | |
Given the inability of politicians from all sides to agree until now, the 48-hour ultimatum makes it unlikely Mr Morsi can survive in power, says the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Cairo. | Given the inability of politicians from all sides to agree until now, the 48-hour ultimatum makes it unlikely Mr Morsi can survive in power, says the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Cairo. |
The opposition movement had given Mr Morsi until Tuesday afternoon to step down and call fresh presidential elections, or else face a campaign of civil disobedience. | The opposition movement had given Mr Morsi until Tuesday afternoon to step down and call fresh presidential elections, or else face a campaign of civil disobedience. |
On Saturday, the group said it had collected more than 22 million signatures - more than a quarter of Egypt's population - in support. | On Saturday, the group said it had collected more than 22 million signatures - more than a quarter of Egypt's population - in support. |
And on Monday the ministers of tourism, environment, communication, water utilities and legal affairs reportedly resigned in an act of "solidarity with the people's demand to overthrow the regime". | And on Monday the ministers of tourism, environment, communication, water utilities and legal affairs reportedly resigned in an act of "solidarity with the people's demand to overthrow the regime". |
But Mr Morsi was defiant in an interview published on Sunday, rejecting calls for early presidential elections. | But Mr Morsi was defiant in an interview published on Sunday, rejecting calls for early presidential elections. |
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