Egypt's Central Security Forces have placed armored vehicles and combat troops on standby across the country, to be ready for quick intervention in case of clashes between supporters and opponents of President Mohamed Morsi, security sources said. In addition, security forces were deployed to areas surrounding the Ittihadiya and Kasr al-Kobba presidential palaces to secure protests, the security sources told the state-owned news agency. The security sources added that reinforcements were also sent to the Media Production City to enhance security measures, following reports that the supporters of the Islamist president plan to rally there. It comes after the military issued an ultimatum to the ruling Muslim Brotherhood government and opposition forces to end their dispute or they would intervene and take control of the country. On Sunday, millions took to the streets to voice their opposition to the Morsi regime and called for his removal from office and early elections. In a televised press release on Monday, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said that the army will be forced to intervene by providing a plan for the future if politicians failed to agree within the next 48 hours. He added that all political and national forces will be invited to take part in supervising and drafting this plan. Sisi described Sunday's demonstrations as "an unprecedented and civilized show of expression and popular will". Morsi's opponents staged mass demonstrations on Sunday to push for a no-confidence vote against him and call for early presidential elections, exactly a year after the Islamist president was sworn into office. It came a day after millions took to the streets across the country calling for Morsi's removal from power and early elections. Despite fears of violence and reports of Muslim Brotherhood supporters wielding shields and weapons, the opposition forces have come together in what many are describing as the most momentous day since the 18 days of protests ousted former dictator Hosni Mubarak. Last year on this day, the main Tahrir Square in central Cairo was ablaze with joy after Morsi had beaten former Mubarak top official Ahmed Shafik in a closely fought election. The military was gone and Egypt appeared heading toward stability, but that has changed dramatically in the 12 months since Morsi took control, with the Muslim Brotherhood and conservative Islamists attempting to take over the country and, in what activists have repeatedly told Bikyanews.com "want to Islamize the country without our consent." But on Sunday, thousands are saying enough, backed by the Tamarod, or "Rebel", movement, who garnered over 22 million signatures calling for the end of Morsi's tenure. The number of signees is much higher than the number of votes earned by Morsi in last year's election, but Morsi has been defiant in defense in recent days, refusing any criticism and even blaming the country's ills on dead people in a speech last Wednesday. Activists online are urging others to leave their homes and join protests wherever they are, whether in Cairo or other cities across the country. People are responding. But the mood is tense and fears continue to grip many across the Arab world's largest country. "My family is scared for me and they worry that there will be violence and killing," one activist told Bikyanews.com on Saturday. All this comes on the heels of a week of turmoil, one in which the fears of Civil War were broached by the world's leading Sunni institution. Al Azhar, the largest and most respected Sunni institution in the world, has warned about civil war breaking out in Egypt on Saturday. "We should stay alert so we don't slip into civil war, that will not distinguish between pro and anti," said the Al Azhar head office in a statement released on Saturday. Tamarod, along with other opposition groups were accused by the ruling party, the Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Brotherhood, of launching an attack on one of their headquarters that allegedly left one man dead and others injured. For now, Egyptians and the opposition are showing their strength in numbers and have urged all who demonstrate to remain peaceful, saying they will not use force against other Egyptians citizens. BN
