EgyptEgypt’s military ousts Morsi from the presidency, suspends constitution

The Egyptian military a few minutes ago announced it was ousting Mohammed Morsi from his position as president because “he failed to meet the goals of the people.”

Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the head of Egypt’s military, also announced that the constitution, ratified last December, has been suspended.

Parliament has been disbanded, and government ministers were ordered to clean their desks and vacate their offices.

Al-Sisi said that Adly Mansour, the chief of the constitutional court, will assume the role of president on an interim basis.

Surrounded by leaders from the opposition, religious figures, and military commanders, al-Sisi said that in the coming days the military will unveil a time-table for rewriting the constitution and conducting new elections for parliament and the presidency.

Following the declaration by Gen. al-Sisi, Mohamed ElBaradei spoke, saying that a key to the roadmap will be the writing of a new constitution. The new constitution, he said, will better reflect the values and perspectives of all Egyptians.

In addition to ElBaradei, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University, Ahmed El-Tayyeb, and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II, spoke after al-Sisi, saying they were in full support of the army’s action..

Among other developments:

• Senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood have been ordered to surrender their passports and stay home.
• All government ministers have been ordered to clear their desks and vacate their offices.
• Egypt’s military has been put on high alert and soldiers were ordered to stay on base.
• Police units throughout Egypt have begun to disarm member of the Muslim Brotherhood and take away their arms.