ULTIMATUM IN EGYPT
Morsi told to meet demands of protesters
Military leaders tell President Mohammed Morsi he has 48 hours to meet demands of protesters calling for his ouster, or they will intervene.
CAIRO — Egypt’s military gave a “last-chance” ultimatum Monday to President Mohammed Morsi: Meet the demands of millions of protesters in the streets demanding his ouster, or the generals will intervene and impose their own plan for the country. Army helicopters swooped over Tahrir Square trailing Egyptian flags, to the cheers of the crowd.
The military’s statement put enormous pressure on Morsi to step down. Crowds demanding his departure in cities around the country for a second straight day erupted into celebration.
But any army move against Morsi after the two- day deadline risks a backlash from Morsi’s Islamist backers, including his powerful Muslim Brotherhood and hard-liners, some of whom belong to former armed militant groups.
After the army state- ment, officials of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood insisted that the military and street protests cannot overturn the legitimacy of Morsi’s election.
Pro- Morsi marches numbering in the several thousands began after nightfall. “Any coup of any kind against legitimacy will only pass over our dead bodies,” leading Brotherhood figure Mohammed el-Beltagi said.
The army’s stance also raises a unsettling prospect for many of Morsi’s opponents as well — the potential return of the military that ruled Egypt directly for nearly 17 months after the Feb. 11, 2011, fall of autocrat Hosni Mubarak. During that time, many of those now in the anti-Morsi campaign led protests against military rule, angered by its management of the transition and heavy hand, including killings of protesters.
Hours after its announcement, the military issued a second statement on its Facebook page denying it intended a coup.
Instead, in its initial statement, the military said it would “announce a road-map for the future and measures to implement it” if Morsi and its opponents cannot reach a consensus within 48 hours — a virtual impossibility. It promised to include all “patriotic and sincere” factions in the process.
The military underlined it will “not be a party in politics or rule.” But it said it has a responsibility to find a solution because Egypt’s national security is facing a “grave danger,” according to the statement.
It heavily praised the massive protests that began on Sunday demanding that he step down and that early elections be called — suggesting that call had to be satisfied. It called the protests “glorious,” saying the participants expressed their opinion “in peaceful and civilized manner.” It called “for the people’s demands to be met.”