Breaking: Top Egyptian Military Commander says Morsi Ousted as President

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BREAKING NEWS UPDATE:

Egypt’s top military commander says the army is now in full control of the country and President Mohammed Morsi has been replaced by the chief justice of the constitutional court as the interim head of state.

Opponents of Egypt’s Islamist President Mohammed Morsi celebrate as they light flares and wave national flags and his picture with Arabic reads, “leave”, in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, July 3, 2013. Army troops backed by armor and including commandos have deployed across much of the Egyptian capital, near protest sites and at key facilities and major intersections. The deployment is part of a bid by the military to tighten its control of key institutions Wednesday, slapping a travel ban on embattled president Mohammed Morsi and top allies in preparation for an almost certain push to remove the Islamist president with the expiration of an afternoon deadline. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

He made the announcements in a Wednesday night speech — the latest twist in an all-out power struggle inside Egypt that Morsi and his national security adviser are describing as a military coup.

Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said the country’s constitution has been temporarily suspended and Morsi has failed to meet the demands of Egypt’s people. Adli Mansour will be the new interim leader.

Fireworks and cheers erupted from the millions gathered in Tahrir Square after the announcement was made.

Earlier in the day, an army deadline for Morsi to resolve Egypt’s political crisis expired.

Top military officials and opposition leaders met Wednesday and agreed on a political roadmap for the country’s future, calling for early presidential and parliamentary elections, el-Sissi said. A new presidential cabinet will be formed as well as a national reconciliation committee, which will include youth movements that have been behind anti-Morsi demonstrations.

Morsi said on his presidential Facebook page that he rejected el-Sissi’s statement, according to Reuters. An aide says he has been moved to an undisclosed location.

El-Sissi said the military will deal “decisively” with any violence sparked by the announcements.

Before el-Sissi’s address, Egyptian troops, including commandos in full combat gear, were deployed across much of Cairo, including at key facilities, on bridges over the Nile River and at major intersections.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor R-VA, today released the following statement on the ongoing situation in Egypt:

Egypt’s stability is tremendously important for America’s national security and for the security of our allies in the Middle East. The Egyptian military has long been a key partner of the United States and a stabilizing force in the region, and is perhaps the only trusted national institution in Egypt today. In the difficult days ahead, it will be important for Egyptian authorities to safeguard the rights, interests, and security of all of Egypt’s citizens. For their part, Mohamed Morsi and his allies must put the interests of Egypt’s diverse population ahead of the interests of himself or the Muslim Brotherhood. The Egyptian people have made clear that President Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood government has threatened the pluralistic democracy for which they called two years ago. As President Obama has said, democracy is about more than elections. It is important that Egypt’s leaders listen to their people, whose calls for a transparent and pluralistic democratic process should be respected.

EARLIER: Read Detailed Article on Military Ultimatum 

Egypt’s top military commander says the army is now in full control of the country and President Mohammed Morsi has been replaced by the chief justice of the constitutional court as the interim head of state.

He made the announcements in a Wednesday night speech — the latest twists in an all-out power struggle inside Egypt that Morsi’s national security adviser is describing as a military coup.

Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said Morsi has failed to meet the demands of Egypt’s people and the country’s constitution has been temporarily suspended.

Fireworks erupted in Tahrir Square after the announcement was made.