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Egypt opposition sets July 2 deadline for President Morsi to quit

Iran Press TV

Mon Jul 1, 2013 9:7AM GMT

Egypt’s opposition has set July 2 as a deadline for President Mohamed Morsi to step down, amid ongoing protests against the government.

“We give Mohamed Morsi until 5:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Tuesday July 2 to leave power, allowing state institutions to prepare for early presidential elections,” said a Monday statement by Egypt’s opposition movement of Tamarod.

Cairo and other Egyptian cities witnessed major demonstrations for and against President Morsi on Sunday. Reports say seven people died and hundreds more were wounded in unrest.

The Egyptian opposition movement warned that if Morsi does not resign until the deadline, the protesters will begin “a complete civil disobedience campaign.”

Tamarod also urged “state institutions including the army, the police and the judiciary to clearly side with the popular will as represented by the crowds” on Sunday.

The movement rejected presidential calls for dialogue, saying, “There is no alternative other than the peaceful end of power of the Muslim Brotherhood and its representative, Mohamed Morsi.”

The massive protests on Sunday came on the first anniversary of Morsi’s inauguration as president following the 2011 revolution that toppled the Western-backed regime of Hosni Mubarak.

In a televised address on June 26, Morsi said the polarization of the country’s political life is “threatening to paralyze” Egypt.

He acknowledged that he had made some mistakes during his first year in office but called for national reconciliation, saying that he was open to cooperating with the opposition on constitutional reform.

On June 27, Egypt’s main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front (NSF), rejected the president’s offer.

The NSF claimed that Morsi had failed to take responsibility for the deep political polarization in the country and the failed economy.

Morsi’s supporters, however, say the president is cleansing Egyptian institutions of corruption but needs time to realize the ideals of the revolution.

DB/HSN/HMV