Cairo: Egypt’s military moved to tighten its control of key institutions Wednesday, as security forces imposed a travel ban on President Mohammad Mursi and several top Islamist allies over their involvement in a prison escape in 2011, amid claims of a “military coup.”
“For the sake of Egypt and for historical accuracy, let’s call what is happening by its real name: Military coup,” Essam Al Haddad, Mursi’s national security adviser, said in a statement on Facebook.
As tensions mounted and crowds poured into the streets to demand Mursi’s resignation, Al Haddad said: “As I write these lines I am fully aware that these may be the last lines I get to post on this page.”
Airport officials confirmed to AFP that they had received orders to prevent the leaders - including Mursi, Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohammad Badie and his deputy Khairat Al Shater - from travelling abroad.
Earlier, a deadline set by the Egyptian army to Mursi to “respond to the people’s demands” expired, with the Islamist leader renewing his rejection of the opposition call for his resignation.
Mursi repeated his calls for “national reconciliation dialogue” to form a coalition government, a suggestion vehemently turned down by the opposition.
Defence Minister Abdul Fattah Al Sisi had “consultation” talks with leaders from the opposition and the country’s Muslim and Coptic institutions amid talks about a roadmap being drawn up by the army including Mursi’s overthrow.
Mohammad Al Baradei, a leader in the main opposition bloc, the National Salvation Front, attended the talks. Al Azhar Shaikh Ahmad Al Tayyeb and Pope Tawadross II of the Coptic Orthodox Church also attended, according to close sources. The army was set to issue a statement.
Thousands of Mursi’s opponents flocked to major squares around the nation, including Tahrir Square in Cairo, putting pressure on the army to remove Mursi from power.
