Cairo - The Egyptian army has asked President Mohamed Morsi to resolve huge protests against his rule or face intervention within 48 hours, placing huge pressure on country's first democratically elected leader.

In a statement on Monday, the army called on all groups – opposition and pro-Morsi alike – to resolve the situation. "The armed forces repeat their call for the people's demands to be met and give everyone 48 hours as a last chance.

"The national security of the state is in severe danger", it said, adding that if there was no resolution the army, "will be obliged by its patriotic and historic responsibilities ... to announce a road map for the future and the steps for overseeing its implementation, with participation of all patriotic and sincere parties and movements."

It described the mass protests on Sunday that brought out millions of Egyptians demanding President Morsi's resignation as "glorious".

It said protesters expressed their opinion "in peaceful and civilised manner", and that "it is necessary that the people get a reply ... to their calls".



Hours later, the army insisted in a second statement that it was not carrying out a coup, and said that it would not be part of the government.

'Huge pressure'

Al Jazeera's chief political analyst Marwan Bishara said the statement undermined the authority of Morsi.

"For the army to give the president 48 hours warning, the army are saying who is the boss," he said. "Morsi is no longer the same president as this morning in the eyes of those on the streets."

He said the statement placed "huge pressure" on the president to resolve the protests, "otherwise we can expect army intervention".

"That could be taking over the streets or taking over the government. This message is to the president. This undercuts his authority."

Morsi was later photographed at the presidential palace in Cairo meeting the prime minister, Hisham Qandil, and defence minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.


Helicopters trail Egyptian flags over Tahrir Square, Cairo.
Hours after the army's statement, helicopters flew over Cairo's Tahrir Square, the cradle of the 2011 revolution, trailing Egyptian flags to cheers of the crowd below. A loudspeaker blared: "The army and the people are one hand".

Tamarod, the main opposition group that has organised the protests, said the army statement showed it was taking the people's side. It urged its supporters to stay on the streets and squares of Egypt until Morsi's rule was ended.

The presidency cancelled a news conference due to take place late on Monday, while there was no statement forthcoming from the Muslim Brotherhood.

The army statment came hours after five of Morsi's ministers resigned. They were the tourism minister, Hisham Zaazou; communication and IT minister Atef Helmi; the minister for legal and parliamentary affairs, Hatem Bagato; water minister Abdel Qawy Khalifa; and environment minister Khaled Abdel-Aal.

Tourism minister Zazou tried to resign last month after Morsi appointed Adel al-Khayat, a member of an Islamist party linked to a massacre of tourists in Luxor, as governor of the temple city. Khayat later quit.

Brotherhood HQ burned

Egypt's street have been filled with pro and anti-Morsi protests since Sunday. In the capital, Cairo, the official building of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood to which Morsi belongs, was set ablaze before people stormed and looted the building. The interior ministry said that eight people had been killed in the violence.

People were seen leaving with petrol bombs, helmets, flak jackets, furniture, televisions and documents.

Mohamed ElBeltagy, of the Brotherhood, told AlJazeera that he rejected a claim that his members opened fire from inside the headquarters at attackers.

Many anti-Morsi protesters spent the night in dozens of tents pitched at Cairo's central Tahrir Square and the palace, positions organisers say they will hold until Morsi resigns.

In fewer numbers, supporters of the Egyptian president came out on Sunday to show their support and defend the legitimacy of the president.

In total, 16 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in clashes between pro- and anti-Morsi groups.

Tamarod - Arabic for rebellion - gave Morsi a deadline of Tuesday to quit, threatening a campaign of civil disobedience if he stays.

The number of people who joined in protests on Sunday was between 14m and 17m people, the interior ministry told Al Jazeera.

Absolutely

I dont see anytin in ur post that includes nigeria so what is the point? What do u want us to protest againts? A good and transparent government we'r enjoyin tank to GEJ Or what? Explain ur poo!

It is palpable to juxtapose the two scenario vis-a-vis Nigerian and Eyptian army. The Nigerian Army is structural and ethnocentrically tailored and programmed to wage war with Nigerians and not Nigeria. In clear terms, NIGERIAN ARMY FIND MILITARY EXPRESSION IN VIOLATING NIGERIANS.

God! how i wish Nigerians would show true spirit of Democracy that we have had for the past 13yrs with nothing tangible we as Nigerians can boost of. is anyone watching the protest going on in Egypt? 17million people on the street protesting what they see as bad LEADERSHIP in just one year of Democracy(Egyptian surely understand what DEMOCRACY is = the will of the people) while we NIGERIANS have been in this band LEADERSHIP for 13yrs. Gawd! With what the Egyptians are doing nows vying for "THE PEOPLES WILL" ahead of that of the Muslim Brotherhood or Morsi's and considering the fact that majority of Egyptians are muslim. oh Nigerians. they have risen above religion,ethicity or tribe because nobi watin them go chop but better life for them all. they would soon start enjoying what almighty Dubai and Kuwait are enjoying given their resource.

you all know why i said oh Nigerians. when would we protest bad leadership in Nigeria. the question we all should ask ourself like the Egyptians did. has this Governor or president truelly,i mean truelly, now I'm writing this because i have risen above religion,ethicity or tribe which i expect from all Nigerians better our, i mean every or even majority of Nigerian lifes. let us ask ourself this question given the resource both mineral,oil and gas and tourism we have in Nigeria.

Egyptian are dissatisfied considering the democracy they all fought for. Its time,and the time is now Nigerians should also be dissatisfied. I will not stop talking till every NIGERIAN rise above party affiliation mentality,religion,ethicity or tribe at the expense of better life for Nigerians. EVERY NIGERIAN MATTERS

ojesoj: God! how i wish Nigerians would show true spirit of Democracy that we have had for the past 13yrs with nothing tangible we as Nigerians can boost of. is anyone watching the protest going on in Egypt? 17million people on the street protesting what they see as bad LEADERSHIP in just one year of Democracy(Egyptian surely understand what DEMOCRACY is = the will of the people) while we NIGERIANS have been in this band LEADERSHIP for 13yrs. Gawd! With what the Egyptians are doing nows vying for "THE PEOPLES WILL" ahead of that of the Muslim Brotherhood or Morsi's and considering the fact that majority of Egyptians are muslim. oh Nigerians. they have risen above religion,ethicity or tribe because nobi watin them go chop but better life for them all. they would soon start enjoying what almighty Dubai and Kuwait are enjoying given their resource.

you all know why i said oh Nigerians. when would we protest bad leadership in Nigeria. the question we all should ask ourself like the Egyptians did. has this Governor or president truelly,i mean truelly, now I'm writing this because i have risen above religion,ethicity or tribe which i expect from all Nigerians better our, i mean every or even majority of Nigerian lifes. let us ask ourself this question given the resource both mineral,oil and gas and tourism we have in Nigeria.

Egyptian are dissatisfied considering the democracy they all fought for. Its time,and the time is now Nigerians should also be dissatisfied. I will not stop talking till every NIGERIAN rise above party affiliation mentality,religion,ethicity or tribe at the expense of better life for Nigerians. EVERY NIGERIAN MATTERS

please flush ur poo!

You people should go and relax. We can't have such revolution in Nigeria because we are divided between ethnic and religious lines. Will the south south and south east support any revolution that will bring Jonathan down? The answer is no. Will northerners support any revolution that would have brought down the government of late Yaradua down? The answer is no. This is the so called One Nigeria, may be the dream of those foolish people who wanted one Nigeria. We all will continue to complain until until the structural problem of the so called One Nigeria is addressed.

ojesoj: God! how i wish Nigerians would show true spirit of Democracy that we have had for the past 13yrs with nothing tangible we as Nigerians can boost of. is anyone watching the protest going on in Egypt? 17million people on the street protesting what they see as bad LEADERSHIP in just one year of Democracy(Egyptian surely understand what DEMOCRACY is = the will of the people) while we NIGERIANS have been in this band LEADERSHIP for 13yrs. Gawd! With what the Egyptians are doing nows vying for "THE PEOPLES WILL" ahead of that of the Muslim Brotherhood or Morsi's and considering the fact that majority of Egyptians are muslim. oh Nigerians. they have risen above religion,ethicity or tribe because nobi watin them go chop but better life for them all. they would soon start enjoying what almighty Dubai and Kuwait are enjoying given their resource.

you all know why i said oh Nigerians. when would we protest bad leadership in Nigeria. the question we all should ask ourself like the Egyptians did. has this Governor or president truelly,i mean truelly, now I'm writing this because i have risen above religion,ethicity or tribe which i expect from all Nigerians better our, i mean every or even majority of Nigerian lifes. let us ask ourself this question given the resource both mineral,oil and gas and tourism we have in Nigeria.

Egyptian are dissatisfied considering the democracy they all fought for. Its time,and the time is now Nigerians should also be dissatisfied. I will not stop talking till every NIGERIAN rise above party affiliation mentality,religion,ethicity or tribe at the expense of better life for Nigerians. EVERY NIGERIAN MATTERS

Stop dreaming now, that's an order! Please be informed that GOD gave them that name EGYPT while a drunkard LUGARD gave us our name ONE NIGERIA, i am sure when you wake up from your daylight dreaming you will know the difference.

carzola: please flush ur poo!

you are the example of the Nigerians i was talking about who hasn't risen above religion,ethicity,tribe or party affiliation and still washed by politians with religion,ethicity,tribe. if the Egyptian were reasoning like us I guess they will be waiting for the next 13yrs since the military has destroyed the country for God knows how many years their's have been but NO, they think democracy 'the will of the people' because they all know it can be done; better life as you have it in dubai and kuwait and other arab state enjoying their resources.