Unrest continues in Egypt as Morsi refuses to resign

EGYPT’S President Morsi will have to resign or be sacked according to the daily Egyptian newspaper, Al Ahram. The army has set the deadline today to resolve the country’s political crisis. The army have said that they will establish a three member presidential council to be chaired by the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court.

Morsi has continually refused to step down saying he would protect democratic ‘legitamacy’ with his life.

In a 45 minute televised speech, Morsi said he had been  voted for in a free and fair election and it was his job to ‘safeguard the revolution’ that put him in office.

He called for calm and said Egyptians should not attack the army, police or each other. He was, he said, attempting to get the army to return to its normal duties and withdraw its ultimatum. But, if the President refuses to accept the demands by Wednesday evening then the army has said it will intervene, dissolving parliament and taking control of the country.

This has sparked fears of a military coup and the armed forces, which took control of the country after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, have increased their presence in Egypt’s cities ahead of the deadline.

Thousands of people gathered in Tahrir Square, the birthplace of the revolution, while a giant crowd protested outside the Qasr el-Qobba presidential palace where Mr. Morsi has been working in recent days. Clashes escalated near Cairo University in the capital’s Giza district late Tuesday night, where supporters of President Mohamed Morsi continue to demonstrate.

According to the latest health ministry statements, 16 people were killed and at least 200 injured.

The Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel to most of Egypt and said any Britons in the country should consider “whether they have a pressing need to remain”.