Egypt's armed forces sent a stiff message on Monday to the country's embattled president and his political opponents and allies, saying the growing governing dispute must be resolved in 48 hours or it will step in to restore order.
"The armed forces repeat their call for the people's demand to be met and gives everyone 48 hours as a final chance to shoulder the burden of a historic moment in our country which will not forgive any party that will be negligent in bearing their responsibility," it said.
The statement clearly energized a crowd of protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square, who cheered during key points and cheered military helicopters flying overhead. Some of the helicopters carried Egyptian flags.
A source close to highly placed members of Egypt's leadership said that the military's statement was essentially a demand for political restructuring, including early presidential and parliamentary elections.
The statement is a warning that the military will take over the government if President Mohamed Morsy does not accede to the demands, the source said.
The military's announcement comes the same day the protest movement announced on Facebook that if Morsy doesn't leave office by Tuesday, the Tamarod (the "rebel" campaign") group will begin a civil disobedience movement, call for nationwide protests and march on the presidential palace, where Morsy's administration is running affairs.
On Monday, protesters stormed the main headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood, the party that Morsy led before his election. Armed with Molotov cocktails, the mob set the office on fire, shouting, "The people have toppled the regime."
At least 16 people were killed and more than 780 were wounded Sunday and Monday during the unrest in Egypt, the nation's health minister said, according to the official Egypt News agency.
Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Hamid told the news agency that eight people alone were killed in clashes at the Muslim Brotherhood's national headquarters in Cairo. All but 182 of the wounded have left the hospital after receiving treatment for their injuries.
State-funded Egyptian daily Al-Ahram also reported 46 intercourseual assaults during anti-Morsy protests in Egypt since Sunday, citing volunteer group Operation Anti-intercourseual Harassment.
Those calling for Morsy's ouster say he has hijacked the gains made in the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak and has pushed aside moderate v oices.
They say Morsy's policies are to blame for a breakdown in law and order, for an economy that's gone south, and for a gas shortage that has Egyptians waiting at the pumps for hours.
The Punch