Military chiefs in Egypt have reportedly met for crisis
talks, as an army deadline to resolve the country's political crisis
draws near.
Senior commanders attended the meeting of the Armed Forces General Command, military sources claimed.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian liberal opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei is
believed to have met army chief General Abdel Fattah al Sisi.
"ElBaradei will urge the armed forces to intervene to stop the bloodshed," a political source told the Reuters news agency.
The Egyptian army has threatened to intervene unless
President Mohamed Morsi agrees to a resolution. It could dissolve
parliament and take control of the country, sparking fears of a military
coup.
The deadline expires at 5pm (3pm GMT), although the army said it had set no time for issuing statements or speeches.
Earlier, a state-run newspaper claimed Mr Morsi will either step down
or be removed from office when a political road map for the future of
the country is drawn up.
The Al-Ahram newspaper said the plan would establish a three-member
presidential council to be chaired by the head of the Supreme
Constitutional Court.
However an Egyptian military source denied the reports and said he
expected political, social and economic figures to be called to talks.
Mr Morsi previously refused to step down and said he would protect democratic "legitimacy" with his life.
Addressing the nation in a 45-minute televised speech, he said he had
been voted for in a free and fair election and it was his job to
"safeguard the revolution" that put him in office.
Mr Morsi called for calm and said Egyptians should not attack the army,
police or each other. He was, he said, attempting to get the army to
return to its normal duties and withdraw its ultimatum.
Sky's Middle East Correspondent Sam Kiley, in the Egyptian capital
Cairo, said: "What matters is what does the military do now it's nailed
its colours so firmly to the deadline that comes on Wednesday evening,
and what will be the reaction, not only of Mr Morsi, but of his
supporters?
"The President has very substantial support from, broadly speaking,
Islamists across the country and they are not likely to take a sudden
change in a presidency that has a three-year mandate lying down.
"They've put out numerous statements on social media saying they will fight and lay down their lives for the cause."
The armed forces, which took control of the country after the overthrow
of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, have intensified their presence in Egypt's
cities ahead of the deadline.
Thousands of people gathered in Tahrir Square, the birthplace of the
revolution, while a giant crowd protested outside the Qasr el-Qobba
presidential palace where Mr Morsi has been working in recent days.
Meanwhile, Muslim Brotherhood supporters who witnessed clashes near
Cairo University told Sky News demonstrators were attacked with
automatic gunfire.
They claimed many protesters were killed and said they expect similar attacks after the deadline passes.
The Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel to most
of Egypt and said any Britons in the country should consider "whether
they have a pressing need to remain".
For more information about this news, click here
ليست هناك تعليقات :
إرسال تعليق