Egypt’s armed forces gave President Mohamed Morsi 48 hours to meet the demands of the people or it would intervene with a roadmap, after millions took to the streets to demand the Islamist leader step down.
In a statement read out on state television, the armed forces reiterated its “call that the demands of the people be met and gives (all parties) 48 hours, as a last chance, to take responsibility for the historic circumstances the country is going through.”
“If the demands of the people are not met in this period... (the armed forces) will announce a future roadmap and measures to oversee its implementation,” the statement said.
The statement comes a day after millions took to the street demanding that Mr Morsi resigns.
“It’s an ultimatum directed to the President of the republic. He has been given 48 hours to accept what the people want and there is only one demand and that is to hold early presidential elections,” said Hassan Nafea, political science professor at Cairo University.
In Tahrir Square, anti-Morsi protesters erupted in joy after the Army’s statement.
“Come down Sisi, Morsi is not my President,” the protesters chanted, urging the country’s Army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, to intervene.
An official from Mr Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood said the powerful movement was “studying” the Army’s statement. Egypt is deeply divided between Mr Morsi’s Islamist supporters and a broad-based Opposition.