(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/121211-cairo-protests-01.photoblog600.jpg)Khaled Elfiqi / EPASupporters of Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi demonstrate in Cairo on Dec. 11. By NBC News staff and wire reportsUpdated at 5:12 p.m. ET -- Egypt's army chief called for talks on national unity to end the country's deepening political crisis after a vital loan from the IMF was delayed and as thousands of opponents and supporters of Egypt's Islamist president flocked to key locations in the nation's capital four days before a nationwide referendum on a contentious draft constitution.
The meeting was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
"We will not speak about politics nor about the referendum. Tomorrow we will sit together as Egyptians," armed forces chief and Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said at a joint gathering of army and police officials.
NBCNews
The talk is part of the essential things they need over there now.
Things are not just right