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No Sign Of When Egyptian Military Will Issue Statement

July 03, 2013

Egypt's military says it has set no time for issuing a statement after the expiration of its ultimatum to President Muhammad Morsi to compromise with the opposition or see the military impose its own plan to resolve the political crisis.

The military made the statement on its Facebook page just before its deadline expired on July 3.

The military has moved to tighten its control on key institutions, putting officers in the newsroom of state TV and reportedly surrounding the state television building with troops.

Under a plan leaked to state media, the military would dissolve the Islamist-led legislature, introduce constitutional changes, and install an interim leadership to take the country to a new presidential election.

Morsi, who has vowed not to step down in the face of millions of protesters over the last three days, has called instead for all parties to form a national coalition government. His Islamist supporters have vowed to resist what they call a coup.

Hundreds of thousands of opponents and supporters are in the streets of the capital and other cities on July 3 as the country waits to see what the army will do.

Opponents of Morsi have filled Cairo's central Tahrir Square.

"Anything is expected, we can't really predict what might happen," one protester there told reporters.

"But it could turn into a civil war if [Muslim Brotherhood leaders] insist on staying in power. And if they resort to violence, this violence will be met with violence, so it could definitely be a civil war."

Supporters of Morsi have gathered in Nasr City at the eastern edge of the capital.

Earlier on July 3, the Interior Ministry warned it would respond firmly to any violence.

Egypt's armed forces chief was meeting on July 3 with opposition leader Muhammad ElBaradei and top Sunni Muslim and Coptic Christian leaders.

Clashes left at least 23 dead on July 2 in Cairo, bringing the death toll to 39 since the protests started on June 30.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, BBC, and Sky News

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/egypt-military-ultimatum-ends/25035598.html

Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.