[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]
|
Status: Not Logged In; Sign In
International News Title: EGYPT MILITARY TO MORSI: “We swear to God that we will sacrifice even our blood for Egypt and its people, to defend them against any terrorist, radical or fool.” High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/56a2f8c6-e2e9-11e2-bd87-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz2Xx5Xo6MN The government and military in Egypt were set on a collision course early on Wednesday after both sides warned of more bloodshed as they refused to back down over an ultimatum set by the army to resolve the political stand-off in the country. Mohamed Morsi, the Islamist president, rejected opposition calls to step down and said he was prepared to die to defend “constitutional legitimacy.” In a rambling speech on Tuesday night the president warned of bloodshed if he were removed. High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/56a2f8c6-e2e9-11e2-bd87-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz2Xx5bozzD The speech provoked fresh clashes between pro-Morsi supporters and those calling for his removal who have been protesting in their thousands on the streets of Cairo for several days. At least 23 people were reported to have died in the violence on Tuesday, according to state-run media, with overnight clashes at Cairo University leaving several dead and almost 200 injured according to local reports. Mr Morsi’s speech elicited a fresh warning from the military. A post on the official Facebook page of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said: “We swear to God that we will sacrifice even our blood for Egypt and its people, to defend them against any terrorist, radical or fool.” The message, reported by Reuters, was issued three hours after Mr Morsi’s televised speech. The Supreme Council is headed by defence minister General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who on Monday issued a 48 hour deadline for the government to reach a compromise with the opposition in order to ward off the imposition of political arrangements by the military. Mr Morsi did not explicitly refer to the army ultimatum, which expires on Wednesday, in his speech but he had already rejected it with senior officials describing the move as a “coup”. “I will not accept any measures that would shake legitimacy. This is rejected, it is rejected, it is rejected,” he said in a clear response to the threat from the army. An opposition spokesman called Mr Morsi’s defiance “an open call for civil war” and said peaceful protests would go on. In the hours leading up to the Morsi speech rival mass demonstrations by opponents and supporters of the Islamist president had flooded the streets and squares in Cairo and around the country, raising tensions and increasing the potential for an explosion of violence. The army was deployed in Cairo near the locations of demonstrations and at crossroads where tens of thousands of Islamists are camped near the presidential palace, site of nightly mass rallies against the president. Helicopters hovered above surveying the rallies. On Monday Mr Sisi had threatened the military would impose a political “road map” if the president and the opposition had not reached a compromise. High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/56a2f8c6-e2e9-11e2-bd87-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz2Xx5mNVCc According to a draft of the army’s road map leaked to the official MENA news agency, the constitution would be suspended and the current Islamist-dominated legislature would be dissolved if the president and the opposition failed to reach a power-sharing agreement. The news agency said army leaders were still revising the plan, which could be changed based on political developments and consultations. An interim council composed mainly of civilians and technocrats would run the country until a new constitution had been drafted. Elections for a president would be followed by parliamentary elections. The proposals are very similar to plans outlined by the opposition for what they hope would be the post-Morsi period. High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/56a2f8c6-e2e9-11e2-bd87-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz2Xx5r6Y2q “Preventing this coup may call for martyrdom, which we would offer as a mark of loyalty to the martyrs of the revolution,” said Mohamed el-Beltagi, a senior Muslim Brotherhood official, referring to those who died in the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak, the former president. Millions of Egyptians responded to a call by the opposition to demonstrate on Sunday and press for early presidential elections. They now feel the tide is turning against Mr Morsi and are determined to remain on the streets until he has been removed from office. However, Morad Ali, a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, said: “Where in a democratic country does the army supervise a political process and determine the road map? This means the army is ruling. This is a military coup and if we don’t wake up to it, the country will be lost.” Misr 25, the Brotherhood’s television channel, broadcast calls for supporters to rally in defence of the president, listing the locations around the country for protesters to congregate and portraying the fight as one for both political legitimacy and Islam. Rumours swirled all day, contributing to the tensions. The Muslim Brotherhood warned in a statement that it had information about a plot to attack anti-Morsi protesters in Tahrir Square and blame Islamists for the violence. Though determined to fight on, Mr Morsi has appeared embattled as the institutions of the state he is supposed to be heading gave every impression that they were trying to shrug off his leadership. Mohamed Kamel Amr, foreign minister, tendered his resignation on Tuesday, joining five ministers who quit on Monday. The president’s spokesmen, two ambassadors seconded from the foreign ministry, were reported to have asked to be relieved of their duties. Anti-Morsi protesters have also been engaged on a campaign of civil disobedience in several provinces around the country, shutting down some court buildings and administration offices.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Fred Mertz (#0)
I hope they drag Morsi's dead body around the streets. What about you? Or do you support Obama's bitch?
|
|
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]
|