CAIRO — Almost two days after millions of Egyptian converged on the streets demanding the downfall of President Mohammed Morsi, the military, which has long been called on to intervene, stepped in with a powerful statement declaring that it will step in if the crisis isn’t resolved within 48 hours.

“The armed forces repeats the call for fulfilling the people’s demands and gives everyone a 48-hour last opportunity to bear the burden of the historical phase the nation is undergoing,” said the statement broadcast by Egypt’s state-owned television and dozens of independent cable channels.

“If the demands of the people aren’t met by the declared deadline, it will be obliged — through its national and historical responsibility and in respect of the demands of the great Egyptian people — to announce a future map and will oversee measures with participation of all national and faithful currents, including the youth who were and continue to be the initiator of the revolution,” the statement read.

The statement that looked, read and sounded like a clear threat to Morsi also said, “The military will not be part of the circle of politics and rule, and will not abandon the role drawn for it in the pure democratic vision that stems from the people’s will.”