Egypt news of the day......
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/04/egypt-morsi-allies-regime
Egypt's new interim president Adly Mansour has launched a widespread crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood's leadership. Photograph: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty
Cairo,July 03 (QNA) - Misr25, the television channel of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, abruptly stopped transmissions Wednesday after armed forces chief Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi announced that Mohammad Morsi was no longer president.
State-run newspaper Al-Ahram reported that two Islamist channels, Al-Hafez and Al-Nas, were also taken off the air immediately after the speech ended. (QNA)
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-07-03/where-action-cairo-right-now
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 07/03/2013 16:36 -0400
http://www.debka.com/article/23088/Army-deposes-Morsi-In-TV-statement-army-chief-names-judge-provisional-president-Tahrir-Sq-jubilant
Tuesday night, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi rejected the Defense Minister‘s demand that he quit to avert a bloodbath. He said he stood by his “constitutional dignity and demanded the army’s withdrawal of its ultimatum. Sixteen people were killed in three separate violent clashes after the speech between supporters and opponents of the Islamist president. Another huge anti-government took place in Alexandria as well as other Egyptian cities.
President Morsi and the Muslim Brothers are hardly likely to lie down for this roadmap out of the crisis, because it would mean relinquishing power after just one year, at the end of decades of being pushed to the fringes of Egypt’s political scene.
Tuesday morning, US President Barack Obama and Chief of US General Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey intervened in the Egyptian crisis early Tuesday, July 2, in an attempt to save the besieged President Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood. Obama called the Egyptian president and Gen. Dempsey phoned Chief of staff Gen. Sedki Sobhi, hoping to defuse the three-way crisis between the regime, the army and the protest movement before it gets out of hand.
The administration had earlier sought unsuccessfully to persuade the heads of the Egyptian army not to issue its 48-hour ultimatum to Egypt’s rulers “heed the will of the people” by Wednesday afternoon - or else the army would intervene. The Americans proposed instead to leave Morsi in place after stripping him of presidential authority and installing a transitional government to prepare the country for new elections to the presidency and parliament.
DEBKAfile’s Middle East sources report that the army chiefs led by Defense Minister Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi rejected the American proposal.
Obama promised to back steps taken by President Morsi to show he is “responsive to the opposition’s concerns,” while Gen. Dempsey asked Egyptian generals to moderate their stand against the Muslim Brotherhood. The underlying message was that if they failed to do so, Washington might reconsider its $1.3 billion annual military assistance package which is the main source of income for the armed forces.
and....
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-07-03/coup-complete-egypt-military-tells-mursi-he-no-longer-president
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-07-03/military-coup-under-way-egypt-president-advisor-says-warns-about-considerable-bloods
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 07/03/2013 11:47 -0400
Press Tv.....
JR/SS
http://ransquawk.com/headlines/egyptian-interior-ministry-says-it-will-defend-all-forms-of-violence-side-by-side-with-the-army-03-07-2013
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-07-02/guest-post-egyptians-love-us-our-freedom
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 07/02/2013 14:21 -0400
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/75567/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-military-leaders-convene-as-deadline-nears.aspx
Defence Minister Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is meeting the general commanders of the Egyptian Armed Forces at the general secretariat of the Defence Ministry to discuss recent domestic developments, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.
Egypt is now in a political crisis because of the Armed Forces' 48-hour ultimatum for President Mohamed Morsi and opposition to reconcile, charges presidential advisor and Brotherhood member, Sondos Asem.
Clashes escalated near Cairo University in the capital's Giza district late Tuesday night, where supporters of President Mohamed Morsi continue to demonstrate.
Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya denied Wednesday urging President Mohamed Morsi to accept early presidential elections, underlining his "legitimacy" as an elected leader.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/04/egypt-morsi-allies-regime
Egypt prepares for backlash as Morsi allies reject new regime
Ousted Muslim Brotherhood mobilises for day of protest as hundreds of party's members are seized
Email
Egypt is braced for further dramatic events on Friday as the vanquishedMuslim Brotherhood called for a "day of rejection" following a widespread crackdown on its leadership by the country's new interim president, Adly Mansour.
Supporters of the ousted president Mohamed Morsi, still reeling from the military coup that removed their leader from power, are expected to take to the streets after Friday prayers following a series of raids and arrests that decimated the Muslim Brotherhood's senior ranks and consolidated the miltary's hold on the country.
In a stark sign of Egypt's new political reality, the group's supreme leader, who was untouchable under Morsi's rule, was one of those arrested.
Gehad el-Haddad, a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, said: "We are being headhunted all over the country. We are holding a mass rally after Friday prayers to take all peaceful steps necessary to bring down this coup." He called for demonstrations to be peaceful, despite fears that anger may spill over into violence.
State prosecutors announced on Thursday that Morsi, who is in military custody, would face an investigation starting next week into claims that he had "insulted the presidency" – a move that would appear to put an end to any hopes of a political resurrection.
At his inauguration on Thursday, Mansour, who was appointed as head of the constitutional court on Sunday, said this week's protests had "corrected the path of the glorious revolution that took place on 25 January 2011", and that continued revolution was needed until "we stop producing tyrants."
He also reached out to members of the Muslim Brotherhood, calling the organisation "part of the fabric of Egyptian society".
"They are just one of its parties and they are invited to integrate. If they answer the call, they will be welcomed," he told Channel 4 in his first interview.
Egypt's new interim president Adly Mansour has launched a widespread crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood's leadership. Photograph: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty
But the severity of the crackdown on the Brotherhood leadership suggests that the overture will not be well received. Security officials said Mohamed al-Badie, the spiritual leader of the Brotherhood for the past three years, had been arrested near the Libyan border. A spokesman for the group denied that Badie had been near the border, but could not confirm his whereabouts. Security officials said Badie's deputy had also been arrested. Both are understood to be in custody in Cairo.
The arrests of up to 300 Muslim Brotherhood officials are believed to have been ordered since the country's military commander, General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, brought an end to Morsi's presidency on Wednesday night, a little over a year since he was inaugurated as the country's first democratically-elected leader.
The shockwaves have resounded in Egypt since then, with scenes of euphoria in the capital being met with foreboding in some towns and provinces, particularly in impoverished areas that had remained loyal to Morsi throughout the past turbulent year.
Hostility between the judiciary and Morsi's office had been a defining theme of his presidency. He had clashed heatedly with judicial leaders over the drafting of a new constitution, which was set aside yesterday.
Barack Obama said that he was troubled by Morsi's removal, and warned that US authorities were reviewing aid to Egyptian military – but he stopped short of calling the army's intervention a coup. He also condemned the arrest of Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The US president had invested political capital in establishing Morsi's democratic credentials, while maintaining ties to the Egyptian military, which had been the main beneficiary of $1.3bn (£850m) in US aid.
However, Egyptian military leaders also hold leverage over the US, primarily by maintaining a peace treaty with Israel as well as keeping the Suez Canal open and patrolling the strategically sensitive Sinai Peninsula.
Obama said: "We are deeply concerned by the decision of the Egyptian armed forces to remove President Morsi and suspend the Egyptian constitution. I now call on the Egyptian military to move quickly and responsibly to return full authority back to a democratically elected civilian government as soon as possible through an inclusive and transparent process, and to avoid any arbitrary arrests of President Morsi and his supporters."
One of the most senior Muslim Brotherhood members remaining at liberty also slammed the new military-backed order. "We declare our complete rejection of the military coup staged against the elected president and the will of the nation," said Abdel-Rahman el-Barr to the thousands gathered at a pro-Morsi demonstration in east Cairo. "We refuse to participate in any activities with the usurping authorities."
The place where it all began last Sunday, Tahrir Square, was quieter than at any time since on Sunday, with a sense of calm and normality returning to the area that had hours earlier been the scene of some of the biggest celebrations Egypt had ever witnessed.
Military jets flew a series of overflights in formation, an apparent display of triumph as much as support. A police helicopter also hovered over the square around the square for the first time since protests began, it's pilot waving from the window at a cheering crowd below.
Helicopters also circled the Rabaa mosque in the east of Cairo, where Brotherhood supporters appear to be preparing for a long stay, despite the presence of military armoured columns not far away.
Men in hard hats, carrying improvised clubs and shields are guarding main entrances to the mosque area. "We are only here to defend ourselves," said Mohammed Ahmed, 35. "After what happened on Wednesday, anyone may come for us. Gangs, the police, the army. We will not let them win."
and....
EGYPT ISLAMIST CHANNELS GO OFF AIR AFTER ARMY ANNOUNCEMENT
UPI 7/3/2013 8:00:09 PM
Cairo,July 03 (QNA) - Misr25, the television channel of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, abruptly stopped transmissions Wednesday after armed forces chief Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi announced that Mohammad Morsi was no longer president.
State-run newspaper Al-Ahram reported that two Islamist channels, Al-Hafez and Al-Nas, were also taken off the air immediately after the speech ended. (QNA)
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-07-03/where-action-cairo-right-now
Where The Action In Cairo Is Right Now
While images projected on every media channel show lasers, fireworks, and celebrations, there are tensions rising still. As Al Jazeera reports,police are arresting crews of local TV stations affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, and as BBC Arabic notes, there are stores being ransacked in Qena and gun shots and clashes in Alexandria. As Stratfor notes, pro-government and opposition demonstrators have gathered in several places across Cairo (as indicated in the image below) and while no military force has been used to disperse the crowds yet - the military seems content to pre-position forces in a standby role and maintain order through a show of potential force - the skirmishes that are being reported hint at the potential for future instability.
Pro-government and opposition demonstrators have gathered in several places across Cairo. Given the highly charged atmosphere surrounding the ongoing political turmoil in the country, the Egyptian military is concerned that these demonstrations could quickly escalate out of control. In anticipation of the Egyptian army's recent announcement that President Mohammed Morsi has been removed from power, the military reportedly deployed troops and armored vehicles toward these concentrations in an effort to control potential unrest. As of now, no military force has been used to disperse any crowds anywhere in the city. The military seems content to pre-position forces in a standby role and maintain order through a show of potential force.
Military Coup Bodes Ill for Future Stability
Egyptian military chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced July 3 that the country's president, Mohammed Morsi, had been removed from office in the wake of popular unrest. In a short media statement, al-Sisi, who was flanked by the three armed services chiefs, opposition leaders, the sheikh of al-Azhar Mosque and the pope of the Coptic Church, announced that Adly Mansour, chief justice of the Constitutional Court, has replaced Morsi as interim president. He also announced that the constitution has been suspended. Mansour's appointment is notable in that one of the key demands of the Tamarod protest movement was that he become president. The provisional government will be holding fresh parliamentary and presidential elections.The arrangement was made without the involvement of Morsi, whose whereabouts remain unknown, or of anyone representing the Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party. The Muslim Brotherhood, which has effectively been thrown out of power, must now figure out how to respond. The group probably will not respond violently, but it will engage in civil unrest that will lead to violence. Though the Brotherhood is unlikely to abandon the path of democratic politics,Morsi's ouster will lead elements from more ultraconservative Salafist groups to abandon mainstream politics in favor of armed conflict.The overthrow of Egypt's moderate Islamist government undermines the international efforts to bring radical Islamists into the political mainstream in the wider Arab and Muslim world. Ultimately, within the context of Egypt, Morsi's ouster sets a precedent where future presidents can expect to be removed from office by the military in the event of pressure from the masses. In a way, this was set in motion by the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak, and it does not bode well for the future stability of Egypt.
http://www.debka.com/article/23088/Army-deposes-Morsi-In-TV-statement-army-chief-names-judge-provisional-president-Tahrir-Sq-jubilant
In his tensely-awaited televised statement, Defense Minister Gen. Abdul Khalil Al-Sisi announced Wednesday night, July 3, that the head of the constitution court will act as provisional president and form an interim government of technocrats to run the country until early presidential and parliamentary elections. He was flanked by Christian, secular opposition and Muslim leaders. Al-Sisi said that all the army’s efforts to effect a national dialogue and reconciliation were welcomed by all factions and blocked by President Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood. On hearing the announcement, Tahrir Square exploded in a frenzy of fireworks and shouts of jubilation which quickly spread across Egypt.
Egypt’s military coup d’etat has been bloodless for now. President Mohamed Morsi was taken from his palace to a military barracks. Muslim Brotherhood officials were detained and issued with travel bans. Army tanks, APCs and troops, including commandos, are deployed at key facilities in the capital and positioned so as to seal off and separate rival groups of demonstrators. Muslim Brotherhood followers continue to stream into the city to join the pro-Morsi rally around Cairo University. Violence clashes have so far been averted.
Sources in Cairo report that top Muslim Brotherhood officials will be tried for “crimes” committed during their year in office. Prime Minister Hisham Kandil and the remaining ministers have left their offices with their possessions.
Defense minister Gen. El-Sisi spent the afternoon conferring with leading politicians and clerics. Muslim Brotherhood leaders refused to attend.
Tuesday night, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi rejected the Defense Minister‘s demand that he quit to avert a bloodbath. He said he stood by his “constitutional dignity and demanded the army’s withdrawal of its ultimatum. Sixteen people were killed in three separate violent clashes after the speech between supporters and opponents of the Islamist president. Another huge anti-government took place in Alexandria as well as other Egyptian cities.
Military circles indicated that to defuse the crisis the army would force the regime to transfer ruling authority to an interim council made up of citizens and technocrats and entrusted with drafting a new constitution and preparing early elections for president.
Those sources did not disclose what would happen to Morsi and whether he would stay on in the meantime as a figurehead president without executive powers.
President Morsi and the Muslim Brothers are hardly likely to lie down for this roadmap out of the crisis, because it would mean relinquishing power after just one year, at the end of decades of being pushed to the fringes of Egypt’s political scene.
But there is not much they can do. Their call to turn out and demonstrate for the Islamic flag Tuesday brought out their own followers and no one else, whereas the opposition is not only backed by millions of assorted groups but has now gained the support of the army, the police, the security service and the intelligence agency.
Tuesday morning, US President Barack Obama and Chief of US General Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey intervened in the Egyptian crisis early Tuesday, July 2, in an attempt to save the besieged President Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood. Obama called the Egyptian president and Gen. Dempsey phoned Chief of staff Gen. Sedki Sobhi, hoping to defuse the three-way crisis between the regime, the army and the protest movement before it gets out of hand.
The crash of Morsi’s presidency would seriously undermine the objectives of the Arab Revolt pursued by the Obama administration as the arch-stone of his Middle East policy.
The administration had earlier sought unsuccessfully to persuade the heads of the Egyptian army not to issue its 48-hour ultimatum to Egypt’s rulers “heed the will of the people” by Wednesday afternoon - or else the army would intervene. The Americans proposed instead to leave Morsi in place after stripping him of presidential authority and installing a transitional government to prepare the country for new elections to the presidency and parliament.
DEBKAfile’s Middle East sources report that the army chiefs led by Defense Minister Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi rejected the American proposal.
Obama promised to back steps taken by President Morsi to show he is “responsive to the opposition’s concerns,” while Gen. Dempsey asked Egyptian generals to moderate their stand against the Muslim Brotherhood. The underlying message was that if they failed to do so, Washington might reconsider its $1.3 billion annual military assistance package which is the main source of income for the armed forces.
Heartened by the US president’s vote of support, Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood and its Islamic allies, rejected the army’s ultimatum for resolving the country’s deadly crisis, saying it would sow confusion and ran contrary to the Egyptian constitution.
Morsi insisted he would stick to his own plans for national reconciliation.
His regime is meanwhile crumbling: Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr resigned early Tuesday, the sixth minister to quit the government in the last 24 hours. He follows the president’s military adviser Gen. Sami Anan, former chief of staff under President Hosni Mubarak. Senior judges and high police officers were seen taking part in the anti-government protest rallies of the last week.
Morsi and the Brotherhood now face two ultimatums: If by Tuesday afternoon, he has not agreed to step down and call an early election, the organizers of the protest movement, which has brought millions to the streets of Egyptian cities, will launch a relentless and anarchic campaign of civil disobedience. The defense minister says the army will intervene if the government fails “to heed the will of the people” by Wednesday afternoon.
and....
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-07-03/coup-complete-egypt-military-tells-mursi-he-no-longer-president
The Coup Is Complete: Egypt Military Tells Mursi He Is No Longer President - Tahrir Celebrates - Live Feed
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-07-03/military-coup-under-way-egypt-president-advisor-says-warns-about-considerable-bloods
Coup Under Way In Egypt, President Advisor Says, Warns About "Considerable Bloodshed", "Tanks On Streets"
The Egypt drama is reaching its inevitable, and largely expected, conclusion. From Reuters:
- EGYPT PRESIDENT'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SAYS MILITARY COUP UNDER WAY
- NO MILITARY COUP CAN SUCCEED AGAINST POPULAR RESISTANCE WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE BLOODSHED -MURSI AIDE
- MURSI ADVISER SAYS EXPECTS ARMY, POLICE VIOLENCE TO REMOVE PRO-MURSI DEMONSTRATORS
- EGYPT BROTHERHOOD SPOKESMAN SAYS TANKS ON STREETS, VIA TWITTER
- SEVERAL HUNDRED EGYPTIAN SOLDIERS, TOGETHER WITH ARMOURED VEHICLES, PERFORM MILITARY PARADE ON MAIN ROAD NEAR PRESIDENTIAL PALACE - REUTERS WITNESS
In other words, if Morsi leaves, you get a Civil War.
Elsewhere:
Press Tv.....
Better for Morsi to die in defense of democracy: Egypt govt. spokesman
Wed Jul 3, 2013 1:3PM GMT
0
An Egyptian government spokesman says Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is ready to die in defense of democratic values as the deadly riots continue across the North African country.
JR/SS
http://ransquawk.com/headlines/egyptian-interior-ministry-says-it-will-defend-all-forms-of-violence-side-by-side-with-the-army-03-07-2013
Egyptian interior ministry says it will defend all forms of violence "side by side" with the army
12:08 - Geopolitical - Source: Al Arabiya
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-07-02/guest-post-egyptians-love-us-our-freedom
Guest Post: Egyptians Love Us For Our Freedom
Submitted by Jim Quinn of The Burning Platform blog,
Our interventionist foreign policy is the gift that keeps on giving. Is there any Middle Eastern country that we haven’t screwed up yet? Oh yeah – Iran. Give Obama and McCain time. That will be the clusterfuck that destroys the world.
15 Photos From the Tahrir Square Protests You’ll Never See In Legacy Media.
Curiously, a massive wave of anti-Obama sentiment in Egypt has been utterly ignored by vintage media, even though the protests may be the largest in all of human history.
Consider the dichotomy: Obama 2011: Mubarak Must Go; Obama Today: ‘It’s not our job to choose who Egypt’s leaders are’.
Hat tips: Dancing Czars and BadBlue News.
Egypt’s Countdown to Meltdown: Morsi Refuses to Deal
Posted on 07/03/2013 by Juan Cole
The Egyptian military’s ultimatum to the Muslim Brotherhood President Muhammad Morsi and his left, liberal & centrist political opposition to find a compromise by 4 pm Wednesday Egyptian time was disregarded by both sides, but most spectacularly by Morsi himself. The country was plunged into crisis when some 3 million demonstrators against Morsi came out into the streets and central city squares of the country last Sunday.
Alarmed, the government of Kuwait urgently called on its nationals to leave Egypt and discouraged further travel to the country, for fear it could descend into chaos.
On Tuesday night Morsi gave a defiant speech, praising as “great” the controversial constitution that passed last December by a little over 60 percent of the vote, with only a 30 percent turnout. That constitution is rejected by most Egyptians as having theocratic implications and as the fruit of a non-consensual drafting process in which the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi fundamentalists had undue representation. Morsi used the word “legitimacy” 72 times in a short speech, underlining that he was democratically elected and saying that he has a responsibility to stay in office.
I have to say that the brevity and completely uncompromising character of the speech surprised me. Morsi did not offer to revise the hated constitution. He did not offer to form a government of national unity, with cabinet members from the opposition parties. This, even though his cabinet is collapsing, with six resignations, and even his own spokesmen have resigned. He did call for a reconciliation commission, and promised parliamentary elections in a few months. But these are not new ideas and are unlikely to resolve the conflict.
After the speech, Tahrir Square was if anything even more energized, with the Opposition “Rebellion “volunteers calling with renewed vigor for the fall of the Muslim Brotherhood regime. Rebellion maintains that in placing himself above the law last November, in ramming through a fundamentalist constitution, in packing the upper house of parliament with the Brotherhood and its sympathizers, and by neglecting to improve services or the economy, Morsi has forfeited the right to finish out his four-year term (he was elected in June, 2012).
Minister of Defense, Brig. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a statement that the army would intervene to save the country from any outbreak of terrorism. (Right wing Muslims have been threatening to turn to terror tactics if Morsi is forced from office).
The day began with a phone call to Morsi from US President Barack Obama. What Obama said, exactly, remains unknown. But Elise Labott of CNN reported that administration insiders told her that Obama was urging Morsi to hold early elections. This explosive news sounded like naked American interference in Egyptian affairs, on behalf of the Rebellion movement that is seeking Morsi’s resignation. The State Department quickly moved to deny the report, but later in the day admitted that Obama explored a range of resolutions with Morsi, and that resignation figured among them. Ms. Labott must have gotten whiplash from the USG revelations and denials, and someone owes her an apology.
Morsi had said on Monday that Obama was supporting him as the legitimately elected president of Egypt. Morsi either misunderstood or misrepresented the American president.
As soon as Morsi ended his speech, clashes broke out between his supporters and police in the vicinity of Cairo University, leaving at least 16 dead and 200 wounded. The dead are said to be Muslim Brothers, killed by police and “thugs.”
It seemed clear that in adopting this defiant tone and attempting to just tough out the challenges from the Rebellion (Tamarrud) youth movement and and from the military, Morsi was setting Egypt up for a major national set of confrontations. The army is openly worried about a descent into civil war.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/75567/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-military-leaders-convene-as-deadline-nears.aspx
Egypt military leaders convene as deadline nears
Hours before Egypt army's Wednesday deadline, Defence Minister Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi meets with general commanders to discuss recent developments
Ahram Online, Wednesday 3 Jul 2013
According to Al-Ahram Arabic news website, they will discuss the unfolding events across the country and the fast approaching 48-hour army deadline to Morsi and the opposition to reach an agreement.
On Monday, the Egyptian Armed Forces issued a televised statement giving Egyptian political forces 48 hours to "fulfill the people's demands," otherwise it would present a political "roadmap" for the country that would include all political currents.
Late Tuesday night, President Mohamed Morsi gave a speech where he called on the army to withdraw its "warning."
In the speech, Morsi asserted his legitimacy and proposed an initiative that included forming a new government, hastening the passage of parliamentary elections laws so as to hold elections within six months, forming a committee to review proposed constitutional amendments, resolving disagreements over Egypt's prosecutor-general, and promoting the inclusion of youth in government.
The army's deadline ends on Wednesday at 4.30pm (2.30 GMT).
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/75559/Egypt/Politics-/Morsi-advisor-Army-ultimatum-caused-Egypt-crisis-a.aspx
Morsi advisor: Army ultimatum caused Egypt crisis and fear of coup
Brotherhood member and presidential advisor Sondos Asem charges that army ultimatum is causing political crisis and fear of coup
Ahram Online , Wednesday 3 Jul 2013
"...we believe that yesterday's business has actually increased polarisation and escalated tensions on Egyptian streets... the army needs to stay out of politics.
"It has led to fears of an impending military coup. We cannot undo two and a half years of our revolution and turn back the clock by going back either to the military, either directly or indirectly," he said to CNN in a television interview.
For weeks, opposition has been calling for protests on 30 June - the year anniversary of Morsi taking the presidential seat. Days before the protests, both Islamists and anti-Morsi groups began demonstrating, and, indeed, the anti-Morsi demonstrations peaked on 30 June into what international media calls the largest protests of all time.
Facing stark social and political divisions, an Armed Forces spokesperson read out an extremely concise ultimatum on state television Monday.
The speech gave Egyptian political forces and parties - including the ruling Muslim Brotherhood and presidency - 48 hours to end the political impasse or the army will propose an inclusive political roadmap. No further details were given.
The deadline is Wednesday, 4:30pm Cairo time.
The deadline is Wednesday, 4:30pm Cairo time.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/75544/Egypt/Politics-/UPDATED-Cairo-University-clashes-intensify-leaving.aspx
UPDATED: Cairo University clashes intensify leaving 16 dead, at least 200 injured
Clashes near Cairo University – the site of massive demonstrations in support of Egypt's embattled president – continue into Tuesday night, leaving at least 16 dead
Ahram Online, Wednesday 3 Jul 2013
According to the latest health ministry statements, 16 people were killed and at least 200 injured.
Those injured included a police officer – Satea El-Nomany – who was shot in the eye, according to Al-Ahram's Arabic-language news website.
Security forces have reportedly intervened in an effort to end the clashes.
According to eyewitnesses cited by Reuters, gunshots were heard in the area and police were seen firing tear gas.
Pro-Morsi demonstrators began gathering outside Cairo University late Monday night in response to millions-strong opposition rallies demanding that Morsi step down.
Clashes erupted in the area hours before Morsi's Tuesday night televised address, in which he defied calls to step down, citing his democratic legitimacy.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/75574/Egypt/Politics-/AlGamaa-AlIslamiya-denies-calling-for-referendum-o.aspx
Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya denies calling for referendum on early presidential poll
A senior leader of the ultra-conservative Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya said earlier that Mohamed Morsi should accept holding a referendum on early presidential elections
Said Gamal , Wednesday 3 Jul 2013
Tarek El-Zomor (Photo:Reuters)
Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya said it suggested some possible solutions for Egypt's political crisis with some political forces to be announced soon.
The suggested solutions did not include early presidential polls.
Tarek El-Zomor, a senior member of Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya, had told Reuters that the ultra-conservative group had called on Morsi to accept a referendum on early polls in order avoid bloodshed.
"This peaceful, constitutional transfer (of power) will spare blood," El-Zomor told Reuters by telephone, adding that it would also protect the constitution that was passed into law in December 2012.
He said the army's statement on Monday appeared to presage a coup, but this "can be avoided if the president decides to hold a referendum on early presidential elections."
Al-Zomor, on his Twitter account, said that a referendum on early presidential elections will "preserve the constitutional transition of power and save a lot of efforts."
A statement by the group — a close ally of the president — comes after Morsi gave a speech late Tuesday stating that he would not step down.
Morsi claimed he would remain president not for the sake of power but to protect the legitimacy of the Egyptian constitution, which was drafted and passed during his first year in office.
Morsi proposed an initiative that included forming a new government, holding parliamentary elections within six months, forming a committee to review proposed constitutional amendments, resolving disagreements over Egypt's prosecutor-general, and promoting the inclusion of youth in government.
The opposition rejected Morsi's proposals and called for nationwide protests, including in front of the Qobba presidential palace, where Morsi is now.
Egyptians are counting down until 16:30pm (14:30 GMT) when the army's 48-hour deadline ends. The army gave Morsi and the opposition the deadline to reach an agreement, or else — according to the army's statement Monday — it will take matters into its own hands and propose a 'roadmap' to move forward.
Morsi dismissed the army's statement, saying that no one, either "internally or externally," will interfere in Egypt's domestic affairs.
Tense Egypt awaits army move after deadline | ||
Army ultimatum to resolve political crisis expires at 1430GMT with leaks projecting draft constitution to be scrapped.
Last Modified: 03 Jul 2013 11:10
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An unprecedented number of Egyptians have taken to the streets since the anniversary of Morsi's first year in office [AFP]
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| Egypt is bracing for a showdown between the military and President Mohammed Morsi, who has rejected an army ultimatum to end a political crisis with his opponents, vowing to stay in office. The ultimatum expires at 4.30pm (1430 GMT) on Wednesday.  The army has said it had to intervene after unprecedented rallies by million of Egyptians at the weekend to demand Morsi step down. Morsi, who belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood group, has vowed to stay in office at any cost. "Egyptians across the country and even Egyptians outside the country watching from afar are incredibly worried about the situation in their country," said Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros, reporting from Cairo's Tahrir Square. "This is probably the most critical point in Egypt since former President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February 2011." Intense rhetoric Sixteen people were killed and more than 200 were injured in clashes between Morsi's opponents and supporters in Cairo overnight. Opposition groups accuse Morsi of focusing on cementing the Brotherhood's grip on power and failing to improve economic and social conditions more than two years after the revolution that forced Hosni Mubarak to step down. The al-Ahram newspaper reported that the military roadmap to end the crisis also includes drafting a new constitution and setting dates for new presidential and parliamentary elections. "My life is the price for protecting the legitimacy," Morsi said in a televised speech late on Tuesday. "If my blood was the price to maintain legitimacy, then I am ready for this for the sake of this nation's stability."
"We swear to God that we will sacrifice our blood for Egypt and its people against all terrorists, extremists and ignorant" groups, a statement posted on Facebook attributing the chief said. "The general commander of the armed forces said it was more honourable for us to die than to have the people of Egypt terrorised or threatened." Al-Ahram also reported that some Brotherhood leaders have been put under house arrest, a highly unpopular measure used by the Egyptian military and police under Mubarak. Morsi's supporters say the army's ultimatum amounts to a coup. | ||
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