Morsi and deputy arrested by the military

Crescent International,

CAIRO, Jul 4: Reports from Cairo say President Mohamed Morsi and his deputy in the Freedom and Justice Party, Essam El-Erian have been taken into custody by the military. Before the military moved against him, Morsi urged the people to resist the coup but should do so peacefully. Two other senior leaders of the Ikhwan (Muslim Brotherhood)--Saad El-Katatni and Rashad Bayoumi were also arrested.

There was however, great tension on the streets of Cairo especially among supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood. There were also reports of gunfire from different parts of the capital. While there was jubilation in Tahir Square where anti-Morsi demonstrators had gathered, around Cairo University and at the Rabia al-Adawiya Mosque where Morsi supporters congregated, there was great anger. Ten people have reportedly been killed since the military takeover a few hours ago.

Informed observers believe that the military may not find it smooth sailing. It is easy to take the reigns of power from a civilian president by using brute force but the people have a way to fight back. There is a real danger of civil war. Should that happen, there will be a great deal of bloodshed in Egypt. The army will not be able to maintain its image of defenders of state. Egypt enters one of its most dangerous periods in its history.

The Egyptian military's coup ousting the elected president, Mohamed Morsi from power was announced on State television by head of the armed forces, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The general was picked by Morsi to head the military after he came to power last year. Sisi said he would implement his own roadmap after ousting the president. He has suspended the constitution, dismissed the parliament and asked Adly Mohamed Mansour, head of the High Constitutional Court (HCC) to take over as interim president until fresh elections are held. The army is already talking in terms of a one-year transition that could easily stretch into many years. The Saudi tribal regime and king sent a message congratulating the new president!

Soldiers had taken up positions in various parts of Cairo earlier in the day including taking over the State television. The TV channel run by the Muslim Brotherhood was shut down. This was followed by the military high command meeting various opposition figures to lay out the roadmap. Those attending the meeting included Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) who was nominated by the opposition National Salvation Front (NSF) to be its spokesman, representatives of the Tamarrod (Rebel) movement as well as judges and Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, head of Al-Azhar University.

The coup capped several days of protests launched by Tamarrod as well as all the defeated candidates in last year’s presidential elections. The protests against Morsi were launched on June 30, the day he completed one year in power. The protests became increasingly violent as more than 50 people were killed and hundreds injured. Most of the victims were Morsi supporters that had also come out in support of the embattled president.

There was hectic activity throughout the day including meetings and contradictory statements from various sides. Morsi was defiant saying he would not resign since he was elected in a democratic election. The army appeared to be equally determined to oust him from power. On Monday, the military gave him 48 hours to negotiate a deal with the opposition or the military high command would implement its own “roadmap.” This was an ultimatum designed to fail since despite repeated calls by Morsi for a dialogue, the opposition flatly refused to meet him knowing full well that once the 48-hour deadline passed, the army would have to take action.

General Sisi’s “roadmap” included the following points:

-Suspension of the current constitution.
-Empowering the head of Egypt's High Constitutional Court (HCC) to run the country until a new president is elected via new presidential polls.
-Forming a new technocratic government and asking the HCC to hasten the passing of a parliamentary elections law, currently being reviewed by the court to allow for parliamentary elections.
-Forming a committee to amend controversial articles of the suspended constitution.
- Laying down a media code of ethics to guarantee media professionalism.
- Forming a committee to foster "national reconciliation."
- Taking immediate steps to include youth in decision making circles.

In his televised address, Sisi (pic) said the armed forces had no intention to enter political life, but said it would “never turn a blind eye to the aspirations of the Egyptian people.” Yet that is precisely what Sisi has done. The ultimatum issued to Morsi was one-sided and by forcing an elected president from office, the military has once again muscled its way into politics. This has been the tragedy of the Ummah for decades. The military as the most powerful institution repeatedly enters politics to dictate its own preferences.

Sisi’s televised address was followed by brief statements by the Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawdros II and the opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei. While the opposition has welcomed the coup and reposed hope in the military, if past experience is any guide, the military seldom gives up power once it grabs it. Egypt has a very long and tortuous history of military rule that has distorted the society in profound ways. This one is not likely to be any different.