MORSI TELLS EGYPT ARMY TO WITHDRAW ULTIMATUM

       Cairo, 24 Sha’ban 1434/3 July 2013 (MINA) – The Egyptian President, Mohamed Morsi, has demanded the army withdraws an ultimatum to resolve the nation’s political crisis, saying that he will not be dictated to.

       Morsi insisted on his “constitutional legitimacy” on his Twitter account on Tuesday night, hours after the Army published a plan to disolve parliament, rewrite the constitution and hold new elections if he could not end protests against his rule by Wednesday.

        Morsi faces huge pressure to resign from his position, and a warning from the military that politicians must resolve the crisis or face the army’s transitional “roadmap”.

        According to Al Jazeera report quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA), four people were killed amid a third night of protests in Egypt. A health ministry source said that the victims were killed in clashes in Giza – three were shot dead at a pro-Mosri demonstration in Nahda Square near Cairo University, and another was killed by gunfire while taking part in march.

       The Muslim Brotherhood office in Helwan was reported to have been ransacked and set on fire.

        Pressure on Morsi continued to mount as the UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, called on him to engage in “serious national dialogue” with his opponents.

        US President Barack Obama contacted Morsi by telephone to urge him to listen to all Egyptian voices, “including the many Egyptians demonstrating throughout the country”.

        More of Morsi’s cabinet and advisers resigned on Tuesday, with foreign minister Mohamed Kamel Amr following five others out of the door.

       The president also lost the support of Sami Enan, his military adviser, who resigned and said the army would not “abandon the will of the people”.(T/P05/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)