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Morsi and Egyptian Generals Edge Closer to Conflict

(New York Times) David Kirkpatrick and Ben Hubbard - President Mohamed Morsi insisted Tuesday he was the legitimate leader of the country, hinted that any effort to remove him by force could plunge the nation into chaos, and seemed to disregard the record numbers of Egyptians who took to the streets demanding he resign. "The people empowered me, the people chose me, through a free and fair election," he said. "If the price of protecting legitimacy is my blood, I'm willing to pay it." In a sign of how fast the ground was shifting, the Interior Ministry, enforcer of the old police state and a prime target of public outrage, removed the walls of concrete blocks erected to protect it from repeated assaults by protesters since the original revolt began. A state newspaper said the barriers were no longer needed because the police had joined "the people" in the new uprising against Morsi. The more conservative Islamist Al Nour party also broke with the Muslim Brotherhood to call for early presidential elections. In addition, six government ministers have announced their resignations including Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr. The opposition umbrella group coordinating the protests, the June 30 Front, said Tuesday that it had named Mohamed ElBaradei, a prominent opposition leader, to represent it in "any possible upcoming talks with the armed forces." The group said its demands included Morsi's departure and the formation of a technocratic cabinet to run the country.
2013-07-03 00:00:00
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