Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Egypt's military: Morsi removed from power

From The Atlantic Wire:

3:00 p.m. ET: The Al-Ahram newspaper reports that Morsi was been told by the military a couple hours ago that he is "no longer president of Egypt." The head of Egypt's military, Colonel General Abdul Fatah Al-Sisi, is delivering its statement on live TV now.

3:06 p.m. ET: Sisi says they tired to negotiate with Morsi since November, but refused. The constitution has been suspended. A technocratic government, run by the ned of the supreme constitutional court, will run the country until elections can be held. The people are ecstatic. Fireworks and shouts erupt in Tahrir Square.

In related news:

Obama is expected to express disappointment. We'll now get the standard State Department boiler plate: "The US urges restraint from both sides and supports the people of Egypt in their desire for a free and democratic society" or some such shit.

I'm pretty sure we will not get another Obama "Mission Accomplished" moment where he praises the democratic transition and crows about "being on the right side of history". Even he is not stupid enough to do that again. Or is he?


Reuters: Head of Egypt constitutional court to be sworn in as interim head of state on Thursday.
(Ahram Online) The Muslim Brotherhood-owned television channel Misr 25 went off air along with several other Islamist-run channels, including the controversial Hafez and Al-Nas, shortly after the military statement announcing the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi.

Police forces went to the Media Production City in Cairo's 6 October, where the offices and studios of these channels are located, and evacuated them, according to Al-Ahram's Arabic-language news portal.

The police also arrested some of the personnel working for these channels.

Amid the celebrations:

Grieving Obama pretends he takes no side, refuses to criticize Egypt's military for ousting Morsi.


Reports of clashes coming in:
CAIRO (Reuters) - Four people were killed in clashes between supporters of Mohamed Morsi and security forces in the northern city of Marsa Matrouh on Wednesday after the Islamist president was ousted by the army, the state governor said.

Governor Badr Tantawi told Reuters by telephone from the Mediterranean city close to the Libyan border that the dead were Mursi supporters.
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, July 3 (Reuters) - At least five people were killed when opponents and supporters of Egypt's deposed president, Mohamed Mursi, clashed after the army announced his removal on Wednesday, state media and officials said.

Gunfire broke out as rocks and bricks flew in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, witnesses said. At least one person was killed and 50 were wounded, state news agency MENA reported, quoting a local medical official.

"We are dealing with the situation ... We have called for security reinforcements in the area," said senior police officer Sherif Abdelhamid.

Four people were also killed in clashes in the northern city of Marsa Matrouh, the state governor said. [...]


BBC:
  • At least 20 people, mostly thought to be Morsi supporters, have been killed in recent clashes.
  • Two senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood - Saad al-Katatni and Rashad al-Bayoumi - are reported to have been arrested.


Security forces prepare to clear pro-Morsi rally
(ITV) Egypt's state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reports that Egyptian security forces are preparing to clear supporters of the ousted president Mohamed Morsi from Cairo University, where they have been rallying in recent days.

It also reports that arrest warrants have been issued for 300 members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

BIG NEWS:


I'm guessing this one is addressed to Obama:

Posted by Watcher at 7/03/2013 03:22:00 PM | | E-mail this article

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