Hours before the deadline of the Egyptian military’s ultimatum arrives, President Mohammed Morsi gave a televised address in which he said, “[I will] pay my life to protect” Egypt’s fledgling democracy and the Islamist-fashioned constitution.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Morsi said, “There is a state expecting me to uphold the legitimacy of this constitution. I have no choice.”
Morsi called on protesters to refrain from violence: “It is important for us to realize that violence and bloodshed is a trap. It will be a source of joy to our enemies.”
He reminded Egyptians that parliamentary elections are coming in six months, but even as he spoke protesters clashed. Morsi’s poll numbers began falling steadily after Gen. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi gave him a 48 hour ultimatum over a day ago.
Al Sisi told Morsi to correct Egypt’s political crisis or face the implementation of a military solution.
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