Morsi defiant as army deadline runs out

Egypt’s army meets with key opposition figures as Morsi deadline looms.

07:41 04 July 2013

Egypt’s army, the government, and key protest leaders have been holding crisis talks as the deadline set for a resolutions to the mass demonstration looms.

Protesters in Egypt have been protesting and asking President Morsi to resign for failing to address economic and security problems since he was elected a year ago. The opposition movement gave Mr Morsi until Tuesday afternoon to step down otherwise, he will face a campaign of civil disobedience.

President Morsi remains defiant and has already rejected the ultimatum set by protesters. He said that he will not be forced to resign and that he is Egypt’s legitimate leader.

The army now have control over the state TV building and are expected to issue a statement soon after the deadline expired. In a previous statement, the army swore to "sacrifice even our blood for Egypt and its people, to defend them against any terrorist, radical or fool".

Meanwhile, clashes continue across the country that killed at least 16 people at Cairo University.

Spokesman for Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood party said: "If the protests on the street prove anything they prove the people of Egypt are ready to have their say. They can sweep the parliamentary election, impeach the president, change the constitution and set the roadmap that they want, but it has to be the right of the people."