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Egypt’s Military Steps In, Issues Ultimatum

The Egyptian military threatens intervention if issues between protesters and the government are not resolved within 48 hours.
Protesters demand that Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi resign at Tahrir Square in Cairo July 1, 2013. Egypt's armed forces handed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi a virtual ultimatum to share power on Monday, giving feuding politicians 48 hours to compromise or have the army impose its own roadmap for the country. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT  - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTX119C3

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.

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