Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi was forcefully ousted this afternoon by the Egyptian army following a wild protest by citizens.
The military have temporarily taken over after the ultimatum given to president Morsi to resign expired today.
Celebrations were taking place across Egypt this evening after the military chief said President Mohammed Morsi had been forced out.
The head of Egypt's armed forces issued a declaration
suspending the constitution and
appointing the head of the constitutional court
as interim head of state.
In a televised broadcast, flanked by military leaders,
religious authorities and political figures, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
effectively declared the removal of elected Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
The president's aide has said the Egyptian leader Morsi has
been moved to an undisclosed location.
Sisi called for presidential and parliamentary elections, a
panel to review the constitution and a national reconciliation committee that
would include youth movements.
He said the roadmap had been agreed by a range of political
groups.
'The people and the army are one hand,' protestors cheered
in the square, amid the roar of horns and chanting.
Two U.S. officials have said Egyptian defence leaders, who
ousted the president, have assured the U.S. that they are not interested in a
long-term rule.
The official says the leaders, in calls with Defense
Secretary Chuck Hagel and General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, pledged to put a civilian government in place quickly.
President Barack Obama expressed deep concern about Egypt's
removal of President Mohamed Morsi and called for a swift return to a
democratically elected civilian government.
Four people have been killed in clashes between Morsi
supporters and security forces in the northern city of Marsa Matrouh after the
president was ousted by the army, Governor Badr Tantawi has said.
Meanwhile, a statement on the Egyptian president's office's
Twitter account has quoted Mohammed Morsi as calling military measures 'a full
coup'.
Nearly 40 people have died so far since the unprecedented
protests began in Sunday and last night there were reports of bloody clashes
between Islamist supporters of Mr Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood and troops
in the capital Cairo.
Prime Minister David Cameron earlier today issued a plea for
an end to violence in Egypt, as The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
warned against all but essential travel to most parts of the country.
Mr Cameron said Mr Morsi must show he is responsive to the
concerns of its citizens, adding : ‘These are deeply disturbing scenes, the
level of violence is appalling. We should appeal to all sides to calm and stop
the levels of violence, and particularly sexual assaults.'
Mr Cameron continued : ‘It is not for this country to
support any single group or party. What we should support is proper democratic
processes and proper government by consent.
‘Very clear messages have been sent to president Morsi -
including by President Obama who spoke to him directly, and we have also been
communicating through our ambassadors - that, yes, he has a democratic mandate
and we respect that, but democracy also means ensuring that everyone has a
voice and that leaders have a responsibility to represent all Egyptians and
show they are responsive to their concerns.
‘That’s what the government needs to do in order to bring
about peace and stability in that country.’
Meanwhile, the FCO is advising against travel to all regions
of Egypt except resorts on the Red Sea in South Sinai and in the Red Sea
Governorate on the Egyptian mainland.
There are no travel restriction warnings for destinations in
the region of Sharm el Sheikh, Taba, Nuweiba and Dahab which are popular with
sun-seeking British tourists.-Daily mail UK
A feeling of freedom from a known source usually ushers in joy unspeakable but events that follow are never fully anticipated. I wish Egypt the best of the after events.
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