Wednesday, July 3, 2013

President Goodluck Jonathan to visit China next week



Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan will visit China next week in a trip aimed at signing infrastructure deals and boosting trade between the Asian power and Africa’s biggest oil producer, officials said Wednesday.  Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has borrowed money from China to finance infrastructure projects, and Beijing has shown increasing interest in Nigeria’s oil industry.

Jonathan is expected in China from July 9-12.

“We want to build trade and economic relationships and we want to have a good exchange of knowledge,” Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told reporters.
She said that the visit aims to “increase trade, get them to increase investment in Nigeria and get a strategic long-term relationship”.

“We want to up our trade volume with China of non-oil goods. This is our objective because we want to diversify our economy,” she said. Oil accounts for some 80 percent of government revenue in Nigeria.
Trade and Investment Minister Olusegun Aganga put trade volume between the two countries at $13 billion dollars (10 billion euros) in 2012, up from about $2 billion in 2005. Deals involving loans amounting to some $1.3 billion for areas including electricity and airport construction are expected to be signed during the visit.
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Video from the televised statement by Gen. Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi Egyptian Army Chief ‎#Egypt ‎#Morsi



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Key US Democratic Senator Sees Review Of Egypt Aid



U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate subcommittee that oversees foreign aid, said on Wednesday that his panel would review the $1.5 billion in annual assistance the country sends to Egypt in the wake of the ouster of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.

"Egypt's military leaders say they have no intent or desire to govern, and I hope they make good on their promise," Leahy said in a statement. "In the meantime, our law is clear: U.S. aid is cut off when a democratically elected government is deposed by military coup or decree."


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LIVE STREAMING: Egypt’s biggest stand-off, Pro & Anti-Morsi protests hit Cairo LIVE UPDATES




Sixteen protesters dead, dozens injured as millions have taken to Egypt’s streets, demanding the resignation of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi on the first anniversary of his inauguration. The Egyptian army delivered 48 hours ultimatum urging the President to step down which expired on Wednesday 14:30 GMT. Morsi rejected calls for his resignation and proposed a consensus government as a way out of the country's crisis.

Egyptians are waiting to hear a statement from the army, as armoured vehicles have been deployed on the streets of the capital.
  • The army told President Mohamed Morsi that he is no longer head of state, Egypt's state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported on its website.
  • Saudi King Abdullah sent a message of congratulations to the head of the Egyptian Constitutional Court, Adli Mansour, for being appointed interim head of state after the armed forces overthrew President Mohamed Morsi, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
  • The Interior Ministry has announced detention of 35 owners of religious TV channels. Another 30 representatives of Brotherhood leadership are wanted.
  • At least 5 die as a result of fresh clashes in Egypt. 
  • Al Jazeera's live Egypt service taken off air; correspondents say security forces stormed the building.
  • UK Foreign Secretary William Hague urges "leadership and vision" to restore Egypt's "democratic transition".
  • Four people killed in clashes in city of Marsa Matrouh after army announces Egypt President Morsi deposed.
  • "I am the elected president of Egypt," Mohamed Morsi said in an amateur video recording uploaded to YouTube: http://youtu.be/exWgkW38_eA
  • Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim has called for the closure of all 'religious' TV media.
  • Opponents and supporters of Egypt's deposed president, Mohamed Morsi, clashed in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria on Wednesday after the army announced his removal from office.
  • US State Department says Egyptian people deserve a peaceful solution to the current crisis.
  • US officials says nonessential diplomats, embassy families will leave Egypt amid protests, unrest.
  • Staff at Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated media are reportedly being arrested.
  • Opposition's ElBaradei: Military's plan for temporary president, elections "responds to demands" of the people.
  • Egypt’s head of the High Constitutional Court is to be sworn in as interim head of state on Thursday.
  • Egypt's second-biggest Islamist Nour Party said on Wednesday it agreed to an army political "road map" that suspends the constitution so that the country can avoid conflict.
  • Morsi urges Egyptians to "avoid shedding blood of fellow countrymen."
  • Muslim, Christian leaders back Egypt transition. Ahmed al-Tayeb, Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Cairo's ancient seat of Muslim learning, and Pope Tawadros, the head of the Coptic Church, both made brief statements following an announcement by the head of the armed forces.
  • Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei describes roadmap as fresh start to January 2011 revolution.
  • Morsi tweets "coup categorically rejected by all the free men of our nation."
  • Egypt's new leader is High Constitutional Court head Adly Mansour, 68, he took the job a few days ago.
  • Morsi urges civilians, military members to uphold Constitution and not to accept the coup.
  • Military warns Egyptians that violence at this time will not be tolerated.
  • Egypt's army chief says technocrats will run the country during a transition after Morsi's ouster.
  • Fireworks burst over Cairo's Tahrir Square, the centre of protests against Mohamed Mursi, and across the Egyptian capital after the army suspended the constitution and appointed a new, interim head of state on Wednesday.
  • Egypt roadmap meets people's demand for snap election - ElBaradei
  • Egypt Islamist channels go off air after armed forces chief announced that Mohammad Morsi was no longer president.
  • Gen. Abdel Fatah al-Sisi: Morsi ousted because "he did not achieve the goals of the people."
  • Morsi urges Egyptians to 'peacefully resist coup', top aide told reporters.
  • Cairo protesters erupt in joy after army ousts Morsi.
  • Morsi's aide says Egyptian leader has been moved to an undisclosed location.
  • Egyptian general: Head of Egypt's constitutional court will serve as president until elections.
  • General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announces a transitional government, new presidential elections.
  • Egypt's military chief says president is replaced by chief justice of constitutional court.
  • Egyptian army commander General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi says Egypt's constitution is suspended ahead of fresh elections.
  • Egypt's political roadmap to be unveiled at 19.30 GMT.
  • A meeting between the head of the Egyptian armed forces, liberal opposition leaders and senior Muslim and Christian clerics, has ended and a statement will be issued within the hour, the armed forces said in a statement on Facebook on Wednesday.
  • An army-backed plan for a new Egyptian political transition includes a short period of interim rule to be followed by presidential and parliamentary elections, the state news agency reported on Wednesday. It gave no further details.
  • Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohammed Badie's six guards have been detained - reports.
  • Egypt political road map to be announced by head of Egypt's Coptic Church and opposition leader ElBaradei, state media reports.
  • The United States is 'very concerned' about the situation in Egypt, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. The situation in Egypt remains fluid, and the United States cannot confirm whether a military coup is underway, department spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters.
  • Tanks and military forces have been deployed "to prevent any dangerous acts of violence that might threaten Egyptian national security in the coming hours," reported state-run newspaper al-Ahram online.
  • Morsi supporters praying in the deathly silence behind the military checkpoint at Rabaa mosque.
  • Egyptian troops are surrounding pro-Morsi demonstrators and securing key facilities and intersections.
  • Fireworks continue to go off as anti-Morsi protesters gather in Tahrir Square on Wednesday evening.

  • Twitter user Hafsa Halawa (@HafsaHalawa) said: "Already heard accounts of people starting to shave their beards for fear of retribution violence".
  • Military source says their statement to be broadcast in about an hour.
  • Egypt's army denies attacking Morsi supporter in Cairo, says securing the area only - official statement.
  • Tahrir crowd is shouting "Don't be scared, he's leaving".
  • The Syrian government has urged President Morsi to step down in line with his people's wishes. Last month, Mr Morsi announced Cairo was cutting off diplomatic ties with Damascus.
  • Fireworks are exploding all around in Tahrir square.
  • Twitter user Sara Salem (@sarasalem) posted a photo of soliders blocking bridge leading to Cairo University.
  • Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad el-Haddad says all his social media accounts have been hacked.
  • Kareem Fahim from New York Times at Cairo tweets: "Islamists break for prayer. Soldiers with riot shields move closer".
  • Reports of military deployment continue to dominate Twitter.
  • Military helicopter is hovering over Tahrir square.
  • The Egyptian army has erected barbed wire around a barracks where President Morsi was working and deployed armoured vehicles and troops to prevent his supporters marching from a nearby rally to his palace, witnesses say.
  • Two top Muslim Brotherhood officials dismissed the reports that a travel ban has been put on President Morsi. “This is not true. This is all empty talk,” said Abdullah Shehata, a prominent Brotherhood member. “Everything is fine.”
  • State of emergency will be announced in Egypt at 8 P.M local time (18:00 GMT) tonight and all Army units will be on alert - a military source.
  • Morsi's adviser says they do not know the whereabouts of the president at the moment. Sources in Al-Ahram say Morsi may be under protection of Republican Guard in Headquarters.
  • Troops and armed personnel carriers (APCs) block the entrance to a pro-Morsi rally in Cairo. Police trucks are circling with machine guns in back.
  • An official source at Cairo's airport said that the authorities have been told to forbid any politicians who belong to religious parties from leaving the country, without referring to "sovereign entities". The source confirms that it is a general alert and that no specific names are mentioned.
  • "Army tanks reaching Tahrir square, troops controlling at least two major bridges across Nile", says Twitter user Jack Shenker ‏@hackneylad.
  • Presidential aide Yasser Haddara says Mr Morsi spent Wednesday working normally at a regular presidential office in a compound of the Republican Guard in suburban Cairo. He adds that it is unclear whether the president will be allowed to leave later and return to the palace.
  • Al-Jazeera Arabic is reporting that all presidential aides have left the presidential palace, and that only President Morsi is still around.
  • Karim Fahim, The Times reporter in Nasr City, tweeted that the army has deployed around a pro-Morsi rally near Rabaa mosque. The protesters there are fighting with the soldiers, he says, shouting "You are our military!" Soldiers carrying riot shields are firing in the air to disperse the protesters, he said.
  • "Tons of shots just fired in air by soldiers where pro-Morsi gathered. People running", tweeted Abas Aslani (@abasinfo).
  • The army has deployed with dozens of armored vehicles at eastern Cairo’s Rabaa Adawiya mosque, and outside Cairo University, where hundreds of thousands of Morsi supporters have gathered.
  • Ambulances are trying to make their way through the crowds in Tahrir at the moment but cannot make it.
  • Several hundred Egyptian soldiers perform military parade on main road near Presidential Palace.
  • Clashes have reportedly broken out outside Cairo University between pro- and anti-Morsi demonstrators. The military had to intervene after rocks and Molotov cocktails were pelted.
  • Al Jazeera reporter Bel Trew posted a photo of a crowd in front of presidential palace. "Anti-Morsi protesters are jubilantly shouting "Get out Morsi", she wrote.
  • A Cairo woman on Instagram (@sohakhairat) posted a photo that reportedly depicts the army rolling into Tahrir Square.
  • Kareem Fahim (@kfahim) has posted another photo of military vehicles heading in direction of pro Morsi rally.
  • New York Times reporter Kareem Fahim in Cairo has tweeted a photo of a crowd of people beside some armoured cars. "Islamists fighting with officers," he writes. "Commander orders soldiers down from vehicles."
  • Several hundred soldiers and armored vehicles are reportedly on the main road near the Presidential Palace.
  • There are about 20 military trucks are near Cairo University – a scene of multiple clashes and a pro-Morsi rally, report sources.
  • BBC Arabic reports armed military vehicles are now on the streets of Cairo.
  • "Armed vehicles just went past the BBC Arabic studio, then over the 6th October bridge", tweeted BBC journalist Claire Read (@clear_red). She said they were heading in the direction of Tahrir Square and posted a photo.
  • A Morsi aide has said the president's message to all Egyptians is to resist a military coup peacefully and "not use violence".
  • Egypt's President Morsi still working at Republican Guard barracks in Cairo. It is unclear if he is free to leave, his aide said according to Reuters.
  • US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has called General Sisi, the chief of Egypt's armed forces, on Tuesday, Pentagon says.
  • “The US is pressuring the Egyptian army” to prevent it from taking action, states the spokesman for the National Salvation Front, the main opposition coalition group, reported AFP.
  • "There is a FULL MILITARY COUP under way now in Egypt. Tanks have started moving through the streets", tweeted Gehad El-Haddad, spokesman for Muslim Brotherhood (@gelhaddad).
  • “I am fully aware that these may be the last lines I get to post on this page,” said Essam Haddad, assistant to President Mohamed Morsi.
  • "Since January and again in the last couple of weeks the President has repeatedly called for national dialog. Equally repeatedly, the opposition refused to participate.The President did not have to offer all these concessions. In a democracy, there are simple consequences for the situation we see in Egypt: the President loses the next election or his party gets penalized in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Anything else is mob rule", posted on Facebook Essam Haddad, assistant to President Mohamed Morsi for foreign relations.
  • Egypt's security forces place travel ban on President Morsi and top Islamists.
  • “No military coup can succeed against popular resistance without considerable bloodshed,” wrote in a post on Facebook President Morsi’s National Security adviser Essam Haddad. He added that he expected army and police to use force to remove supporters of the President.
  • Military coup is under way in Egypt, said President Morsi’s adviser.
  • Several thousand protesters arrive at the presidential guard's palace where Morsi is said to be inside.
  • The failure of police and security forces to protect protesters and bystanders from violence is "suspicious", Amnesty International has said. "The security forces should have been more than ready to prevent and stop the kinds of deadly clashes that we've seen in the past three days," Amnesty's Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui said. "This suspicious failure to prevent loss of life is a callous failure of their duty to protect lives and uphold human rights."
  • Mr Morsi has not been placed under house arrest, a presidential spokesman told the BBC after reports to the contrary on local TV.
  • One hour passes with no statement from the army yet, as pro and anti-Morsi protesters continue to wait.

  • Turkish court cancelled plans to redevelop Taksim Square into monument to Ottoman Empire & shopping mall.
  • Hayat TV reported that Morsi is under house arrest.
  • Watch live stream from Tahrir Square above.
  • Morsi office statement: "The presidency's vision of steps for national dialogue starts with the formation of a national unity coalition government, which will hold early parliamentary election, and the formation of an independent committee for constitutional amendments to be proposed to the new parliament. The breach of constitutional legitimacy threatens to derail democratic procedures from their correct path".
  • In Human Rights Watch's daily brief, they ask: "In Egypt, Morsi is defiant, but is he still in charge? Where are the police, and why is it open season for sexual assault on Tahrir Square?" The organisation has reported 91 sexual attacks on women in Tahrir Square in the past four days alone.
  • Egypt's military leadership are still holding meetings with the opposition and religious leaders.
  • Large pro-Morsi demonstration has gathered outside Cairo's Rabaa al-Adaweya Mosque.
  • Morsi statement: "I can't accept as president any bias (by army?) to one side over another".
  • Egypt Interior Minister orders handing out water and juice for protesters in Tahrir.
  • Protests in Tahrir Square:
  • The Tamarod (Rebel) movement, which leads the anti-Morsi protest, has called on Egyptians to immediately take to the streets and squares to listen to the army speech.
  • A statement reiterated that President Mohamed Morsi held opposition parties responsible for obstructing a political initiative that would also set up a panel to prepare amendments to the constitution passed into law last December.
  • President Morsi published a statement in which he refused to step down and said the military must not “take sides.” In the statement, he also propose to create a coalition government headed by PM elected by political powers.
  • "The presidency envisions the formation of a consensus coalition government to oversee the next parliamentary election," Morsi office said in a statement on Facebook.
  • Egypt's Morsi offers consensus govt as a way out crisis.
  • The army has given Morsi until 17:00 Cairo (15:00GMT) time to either form a coalition government or face the prospect of a coup, reports Los Angeles Times.
  • Cabinet secretary general, Safwat Abdel Dayem resigns, Egypt TV reports.
  • Protesters waving the Egyptian national flag also gathered outside the defence ministry in Cairo.
  • While anti-Morsi protesters are chanting in Tahrir square, supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi perform prayers at the Raba El-Adwyia mosque square in Cairo.
  • Egyptian state TV says to expect an army statement as soon as its meeting with religious, political and youth figures (but not the ruling Freedom and Justice Party) ends.
  • An anti-Morsi march joins the crowd at the Republican Guard building where Morsi is believed to be staying.
  • Cheers are echoing round Tahrir Square in Cairo where tens of thousands of demonstrators have gathered.
  • The Muslim Brotherhood's TV channel says the FJP - the ruling party - refused the military's invitation to take part in the meeting being held now between the defence minister and different political factions and religious institutions.
  • The deadline for President Mohamed Morsi to adhere to a military ultimatum on resolving the country's political crisis has expired (1430 GMT).
  • "Itihadiya is empty because the throng moved to the Republican Guards HQ. Morsi believed to be there", reported Twitter user @TheBigPharaoh.
  • Al Jazeera's reporter in Tahrir Square Hoda Abdel-Hamid (@HodaAB) said: "Certainly here is the same feeling of defiance. Everybody is saying 'soon the army will take the reigns of power. They are also waiting to see what the youth who went to meet with the army will tell them when they come back to Tahrir Square, but here is the feeling that it is over for President Morsi".
  • Egypt's top judicial body has confirmed the reinstatement of public prosecutor Abdel Meguid Mahmud, piling the pressure on President Morsi who sacked him in November. His replacement Talaat Abdullah said in response that he "respects all judicial decisions.
  • "Soldiers close to pro Morsi rally in Nasr City appear ready to move: armoured vehicles idling at parking lot entrance. Soldiers w/riot shields in jeeps", tweeted The New York Times reporter Kareem Fahim (@kfahim).
  • Protesters on Tahrir Square are chanting "People and police are one hand".
  • Hundreds of thousands take to streets in Cairo as army ultimatum deadline for Morsi passes in 20 minutes.
  • The Egyptian army's general command is currently meeting with religious, national, political and youth leaders, according to the army's Facebook page.
  • Egypt's anti-Morsi rebel campaign has urged Egyptians to flock to "every protest venue and street", Ahram Online reported.
  • In Tahrir Square volunteers created a space between female (left) and male (right) protesters to prevent sexual harassment. There were dozens of reported cases of abuse over the past few days.
  • Tahrir full of patriotic songs. Chants of "Don't be scared, he is leaving!" - Twitter user Max Strasser (@maxstrasser).
  • Group organizes on Twitter to fight sexual harassment of women on and around Tahrir Square.
  • As the deadline looms, Morsi's supporters are also rallying in Cairo.
  • Egyptian Islamist party Gamaa Islamiya have called for "wise political moves" to stop the situation deteriorating further. In a new statement, they said they are working to bring views of the presidency and the military closer together. Earlier one of their leaders called for early elections despite the group being seen as close to the president and the Muslim Brotherhood.
  • With one hour to go until the deadline expires, crowds are gathering in Tahir Square, as military officials have arrived at the state TV newsroom.
  • Egypt’s Giza governor quits over clashes in Al Nahda Square, according to State TV.
  • Staff at Egyptian TV confirm that the military has taken over, according to the BBC's Aleem Maqbool. Only essential staff remain, others are gone.
  • Military officers are present in state TV newsroom, monitoring content before ultimatum.
  • An official at the towering downtown headquarters of Egypt’s state television and media denied rumors on Wednesday that the military had taken over state media operations: “The army is protecting the building, but the situation is normal inside the building”
  • "There is nothing left for Morsi but to resign. Otherwise a dangerous conflict would follow. One can easily imagine what would happen when the population finally loses its patience, while Morsi is still holding onto his “pharaoh throne”, Egyptian political analyst Abd al-Khalek Farouk said in an exclusive interview with the Voice of Russia.
  • Egypt's army said it had set no times for issuing statements or speeches on Wednesday as a deadline loomed that would trigger a military takeover backed by protesters. Army sources had previously said the army would issue a statement after the deadline expires at about 1500 GMT.
  • The sources said staff not involved in working on live broadcasts had left the building.
  • All Jazeera confirms the report, with the following nugget from Reuters: "Egyptian troops with armoured vehicles have secured the central Cairo studios of state television on Wednesday, security sources said".
  • Egypt's State TV taken over by military
  • Mr Morsi's spokesman quote in full: "It is better for a president, who would otherwise be returning Egypt to the days of dictatorship, from which God and the will of the people has saved us, to die standing like a tree, rather than be condemned by history and future generations for throwing away the hopes of Egyptians for establishing a democratic life.
  • The military ultimatum expires in 1 hour
  • Egypt's ruling Muslim Brotherhood is to stand firm against any pressure brought by the army on Islamist President Mohammed Morsi to step down, according to spokesman Gehad El-Haddad. "The only plan any ppl hv in the face of an attempted coup is to stand in front of the tanks. Just like we did in #Jan25 Rev," El-Haddad posted on Twitter in English, referring to the 2011 revolt that toppled president Hosny Mubarak.
  • A spokesman for Mohamed Morsi said the president believed it would be better to die "standing like a tree", defending the electoral legitimacy of his office, than to go down in history as having destroyed Egyptians' hopes for democracy. Saying that Morsi was not seeking to cling to office for its own sake, spokesman Ayman Ali told Reuters news agency that, in his overnight speech to the nation, the president had defied calls to resign in order to "defend the democratic system". "It is better for a president, who would otherwise be returning Egypt to the days of dictatorship, from which God and the will of the people has saved us, to die standing like a tree," Ali said, "Rather than be condemned by history and future generations for throwing away the hopes of Egyptians for establishing a democratic life."
  • Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood political party refused invitation to meet army commander, military and party sources told Reuters news agency agency.
  • David Cameron's official Twitter: @Number10gov "PM: The scenes in #Egypt are deeply disturbing. We support proper democratic processes and government by consent".
  • Egypt's interior ministry warned it will respond firmly to any violence, in a statement issued about two hours before the expiry of an army deadline for President Mohamed Morsi to "meet the demands of the people" in the face of mass protests.
  • Hundreds of Morsi supporters were reportedly seen marching towards Cairo University. CNN's Ivan Watson reported from the scene today, tweeting that Dr. Hussein Saber, a Muslim Brotherhood supporter, said: “There's going to be a war between Islamic people and the police”. He also tweeted that a man who drove his car through a Muslim Brotherhood checkpoint at Cairo University told him: "These are not Egyptians, they are terrorists, all terrorists for Morsi."
  • It would be better for President Morsi to die in defence of democracy than be blamed by history, Reuters reported Morsi's spokesman as sying.
  • The Egyptian army has invited opposition leader Mohammed ElBaradei, the top Sunni sheikh and the Coptic pope for "consultations" on a future roadmap to end the crisis, reported the state-run newspaper al-Ahram. The military also invited leaders from the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party of President Mohammed Morsi, added the report.
  • Egyptian hardline Islamist group al-Gamaa al-iIlamiya, in a statement, calls on supporters to remain peaceful.
  • "[Morsi] is not qualified to run the country with such complicated situations," says Sara Khorshid, the Guardian journalist in Egypt.
  • Khalil Anani, a senior fellow at the Middle East institute and an author of a book on the Muslim Brotherhood, said while the ruling Brotherhood had bargains with the army in the past, "there is a lot of mistrust now". The Brotherhood say they "feel bitterness from the army because it is playing a very biased role [on the side of] the opposition", Anani, speaking to Al Jazeera from Cairo, said. “The Brotherhood waited for 80 years to take power and this is the time to maintain power as long as they can." Al Jazeera reported.
  • Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti, the highest religious authority in the birthplace of Islam, urged Egyptians to cooperate in order to avoid bloodshed as an army deadline nears to resolve the country's political crisis.
  • Thousands of protesters are on Cairo’s Tahrir Square chanting anti-Morsi slogans.
  • It is suspected that the military itself was leaking some reports to the media to test people's reaction, Al Jazeera correspondent said.
  • Egyptian liberal opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei met army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during the emergency talks. "In the meeting, ElBaradei will urge the armed forces to intervene to stop the bloodshed," one opposition source said.
  • The army is expected to issue a statement after its deadline passes. It expires in 2 hours 30 minutes.
  • Residents have clashed with Muslim Brotherhood members outside Cairo University, Al Jazeera reports. Egypt Independent paper tweeted: "Pro-Morsy protesters at Cairo University chant the anti-Jewish slogan: "Khaybar, Khayber, O Jews, the army of Mohamed will return."
  • Egyptian opposition leader Elbaradei is meeting with Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, opposition sources tell Reuters news agency.
  • Amid reports of rampant sexual harassment against women in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the military cordoned off an area to protect female protesters, Al Jazeera reports.
  • "The mood in Tahrir is getting increasingly tense. Everyone here is waiting for the army to make a statement in response to President Morsi's speech. They believe the army will unseat the President for them. Others are worried about what that will actually entail. The big questions now are what will the army do next and how many more people will die in the process," Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros in Tahrir Square in Cairo said.
  • Patrick Kingsley (‏@PatrickKingsley), the Guardian journalist in Egypt, wrote on his Twitter timeline: "A whole car park near the Nasr City pro-Morsi rally in east Cairo is filled with troops"
  • Egyptian Armed Forces General Command is still holding a crisis meeting, a military source said. The military ultimatum expires in 3 hours.
  • A crisis meeting of the Egypt’s military top brass is underway in the capital city of Cairo. It may suspend the Constitution and remove President Morsi from power.The meeting comes after the Army said it was going to draft a political roadmap two days ago to tackle the escalating crisis in the country. Al Arabiya channel reports that President Mohamed Morsi has left Al Quba, the presidential palace in Cairo, and moved into the Masr el-Gedida neighbourhood, which hosts the Republican Guard quarters.Demonstrators are gathering in Tahrir square to march to Masr el-Gedida where they are planning to stage a mass rally
  • Senior military commanders are on emergency talks after Egypt's embattled President Mohamed Morsi rejected their ultimatum to resolve the current crisis.
  • "We will never agree to a coup in Egypt whether by the army or anyone else. So we are all united behind the leader, and our leader is President Mohamed Morsi. And we will not permit anyone, whether the army, or armed forces to carry out a coup against legitimacy, which we elected," Hussein Abdul Qader, pro-Morsi demonstrator outside Cairo's Raba'a al-Adawiya mosque.
  • The families of Azeri diplomats were evacuated from Egypt. "Two families of Azeri diplomats had been staying in Egypt. They left for Baku on Tuesday," Azeri Ambassador to Egypt Shahin Abdullayev said. "We also informed members of our community about tensions in the country. They are starting to leave Egypt. This is a coordinated process," the diplomat said. The Azeri Embassy in Egypt is working normally, he said.


  • A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood says there are signs a military coup is underway and that the group is ready to act as human shields to defend President Mohamed Morsi."We don't think the military has any right to offer a roadmap. A roadmap is something that the constitution outlines and the president directs. It's not the role of the military. From the Brotherhood's perspective, we are open to any type of solution but it has to be through representatives of the people. When we say that we will stand between the tanks and the president that means that we will sacrifice ourselves as a human shield to protect the legitimacy of the will of the Egyptian people. I will not, personally, tolerate a new dictatorship that would rob my daughter and my son from the life that they was promised under a democracy."
  • At least 16 people were killed and more than 200 injured last night near the Cairo University, according to the Egypt's Health Ministry.
  • Egypt’s central bank sets the deadline for accessing overnight lending on Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. (1045 GMT) instead of 4:30 p.m., as army deadline approaches, a banker said.
  • President Mohamed Morsi in his last night's speech used the word "legitimacy" 74 times in 45 minutes.
  • Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's hardline Islamist allies in al-Gamaa al-Islamiya want him to call early presidential elections to avoid bloodshed and a military coup, Tarek al-Zumar, a senior member of the group told Reuters. The Gamaa Islamiya, once an armed group that is one of Morsi's few remaining allies, had been advising the head of state to call early presidential elections in the two days since the army issued a deadline for politicians to resolve the political conflict by Wednesday. "This peaceful, constitutional transfer (of power) will spare blood," Zumar told Reuters by telephone, adding that it would also protect the constitution that was passed into law in December. He said the army's statement appeared to presage a coup, but this "can be avoided if the president decides to hold a referendum on early presidential elections".
  • Egypt's central bank has told banks to close their branches early and has advanced the time for a foreign currency auction, a banker said, ahead of an army deadline on Wednesday that could trigger a military takeover backed by protesters. Banks must close their branches by 2:00 p.m. (1200 GMT) instead of the usual 5:00 p.m. The central bank will hold its currency auction at 10:30 instead of 11:00 and issue the result at 11:00 a.m. instead of 12:00 noon, the banker said. The military has set a deadline of about 5:00 p.m. for President Mohamed Morsi to agree to a power-sharing deal with his rivals, an ultimatum that Morsi has rejected.
  • An Egyptian military source denied local media reports on the details of a political road map to be implemented by the army if political parties fail to resolve the country's political standoff on Wednesday. The source said he expected the next step would be to call political, social and economic figures to talks on the road map.
  • Human Rights Watch reports at least 91 incidents of sexual violence in four days: The rampant sexual attacks during the Tahrir Square protests highlight the failure of the government and all political parties to face up to the violence that women in Egypt experience on a daily basis in public spaces.
  • EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called for "restraint" and political dialogue in Egypt while offering condolences for those killed as fresh violence rocked the capital. "Confrontation cannot be a solution," Ashton said in a statement. "The solution to the present impasse can only be political on the basis of a substantial and inclusive dialogue." Welcoming the peaceful conduct of most protests so far, Ashton said continuing sexual abuse of female protesters was "deeply troubling". "I urge all sides to show restraint and reiterate my call to respect the principle of peaceful protest and non-violence," she said, offering "deepest condolences" to the families of those killed in the protests.
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