Egypt’s Morsi defies Army ultimatum
Protests turn deadly as crisis deepens
CAIRO — Embattled President Mohammed Morsi vowed not to resign late Tuesday, hours before a deadline to yield to the demands of millions of protesters or see the military install new leadership.
The Islamist leader demanded that the powerful armed forces withdraw their ultimatum, say- ing he rejected all “dictates” — from home or abroad. Outside on the streets, the sense that both sides were ready to fight to the end sharpened, with clashes between his supporters and opponents that left at least 23 dead.
In an emotional speech aired live to the nation, Morsi, who a year ago was inaugurated as Egypt’s first freely elected president, pledged to protect his “constitutional legitimacy” with his life. He accused loyalists of his ousted autocratic predecessor Hosni Mubarak of exploiting the wave of protests to topple his regime and thwart democracy.
“There is no substitute for legitimacy,” said Morsi, who at times angrily raised his voice, thrust his fist in the air and pounded the podium. He warned that electoral and constitutional legitimacy “is the only guarantee against violence.”
Morsi’s defiant statement showed that he and his Muslim Brotherhood are prepared to run the risk of challenging the army. It also entrenches the lines of confrontation between his Islamist supporters and Egyptians angry over what they see as his efforts to impose control by his Muslim Brotherhood and his failures to deal with the country’s problems.
For a third day Tuesday, millions of chanting Morsi opponents filled Cairo’s historic
Tahrir Square, as well as avenues adjacent to two presidential palaces in the capital, and main squares in cities nationwide.
After Morsi’s speech, they erupted in indignation, banging metal fences to raise a din, some raising their shoes in the air in a show of contempt.
“Leave, leave,” they chanted.
Morsi “doesn’t understand. He will take us toward bloodshed and civil war,” said Islam Musbah, a 28-year- old protester, dejectedly resting his head on his hand.
The president’s supporters also moved out in increased marches in Cairo and other cities. Morsi’s supporters have stepped up warnings that it will take bloodshed to dislodge him.
While Morsi has stuck to a stance that he is defending democracy in Egypt, many of his Islamist backers have presented the fight as one to protect Islam.
“Seeking martyrdom to prevent the ongoing coup is what we can offer as a sign of gratitude to previous martyrs who died in the revolution,” Brotherhood stalwart Mohammed el-Beltagy wrote Tuesday on his official Facebook page.
On Monday, the military gave Morsi an ultimatum to meet the protesters’ demands within 48 hours.
If not, the generals’ plan would suspend the Islamist-backed constitution, dissolve the Islamistdominated legislature and set up an interim administration headed by the country’s chief justice, the state news agency reported.
The leaking of the military’s so- called political “road map” appeared aimed at adding pressure on Morsi by showing the public and the international community that the military has a plan that does not involve a coup.
On his official Twitter account, Morsi urged the armed forces “to withdraw their ultimatum” and said he rejects any domestic or foreign dictates.”
And in his 46-minute speech Tuesday, he implicitly warned the military against removing him, saying such action will “backfire on its perpetrators.”
The Obama administration has tried to remain above Egypt’s political fray, quietly counseling all sides to cooperate and compromise for the good of the country and the broader region.
But administration officials said they determined that the low-key approach was no longer tenable after all sides hardened their positions on Monday.
Fearing that Washington’s most important Arab ally would descend into chaos, U. S. officials said they are urging Morsi to take immediate steps to address opposition grievances, telling the protesters to remain peaceful and reminding the army that a coup could have consequences for the $1.8 billion American military aid package it receives annually.
White House officials said President Barack Obama outlined the suggestions to Morsi in a phone call late Monday from Tanzania, where he was wrapping up a trip to Africa.
Simultaneously, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called his Egyptian counterpart to point out that U.S. law requires cuts in military assistance in most cases when a country’s armed forces are involved in an unconstitutional change in government, the officials said.
Meanwhile, diplomats at the U. S. Embassy in Cairo have been speaking with the opposition, the officials said.
While military assistance would technically be at risk if the army intervened, the administration would be hard pressed to make significant cuts in it as the aid is deemed critical to U.S. national interests as well as those of allies like Israel and broader regional security.
There are also fears that the United States presses the Egyptian military too hard, it might renounce its peace treaty with Israel, a destabilizing move that could lead to war.
At the Pentagon, spokesman George Little would not say whether the U. S. has received any commitment from the Egyptian military to provide security for any Americans at the embassy in the event of riots or a coup.