Egyptian army tanks and barbed wire block the way near the presidential palace after overnight violent clashes between opponents and supporters of President Mohamed Morsi, in Cairo, Egypt, December 6, 2012. Egyptian army issued an ultimatum for demonstrators camping outside the presidential palace to leave the area by 1300 GMT or they would be cleared by force, reported state media. Six people were killed and at least 350 others injured in overnight clashes between opponents and backers of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi outside the presidential palace in Cairo. UPI/Karem Ahmad |
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CAIRO, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Egyptian military leaders Saturday called on President Mohamed Morsi and political opposition leaders to resolve their dispute or face military intervention.
"The armed forces ... realize their responsibility to preserve the higher interests of the country, and to secure and protect vital targets, public institutions and the interests of innocent citizens," the army said in a statement read on Egyptian TV by a spokesman. "The armed forces affirm that dialogue is the best and only way to reach consensus. The opposite of that will bring us to a dark tunnel that will result in catastrophe and that is something we will not allow."
The opposition has called on Morsi to relinquish extraordinary powers he invoked last week and to call off a Dec. 15 referendum on ratifying a new constitution that Morsi opponents say is inadequate in terms of protecting political and religious freedoms and the rights of women, the BBC reported.
The New York Times said the official newspaper al-Ahram has reported Morsi approved legislation allowing the use of armed forces to arrest civilians in an attempt to keep order but had not yet ordered the army into action.
"President Morsi will soon issue a decision for the participation of the armed forces in the duties of maintaining security and protection of vital state institutions until the constitution is approved and legislative elections are finished," al-Ahram reported.
The Egyptian newspaper said the defense minister would determine the parameters of the military's involvement.
Morsi was conducting what he called a national dialogue at the presidential palace Saturday, following two weeks of sometimes violent demonstrations against his Nov. 22 decree asserting broad new powers.
Protesters gathered again at the palace Saturday. Morsi's opponents said his call for dialogue is inadequate, al-Masry al-Youm reported.
"The president didn't offer any incentives for dialogue," said Mohamed Abu-Shaqra. "Rather he emphasized the use of haphazard power and referred to opposition protesters across the country as a minority, as well as pointing to a third party. If he wants to start a healthy dialogue at such a critical moment, you need to show an understanding of the opposition's demands."
Protesters said their main demands were for Morsi to repeal the November decree and to scrap the referendum.
Ahram Online said the cabinet approved Morsi's plan to expand the military's authority, a move that would require Morsi to issue a constitutional declaration, The Washington Post reported.
