Egyptian army vehicles block Salah Salem Street in Nasr City District of Cairo, where supporters of President Mohamed Morsi gather for a demonstration, July 3, 2013.[/caption]Egypts President Mohamed Morsi is being held preventively by the military, says a senior Egyptian army official.
He (Morsi) is being held preventively for final preparations, said the army official, whose name was not mentioned in the reports, on Thursday.
Morsi might face formal charges over accusations made by his opponents, the official stated.
Senior Muslim Brotherhood official Gehad El-Haddad said earlier on Thursday, Morsi has been separated from his aides and was taken to the Defense Ministry.
Late Wednesday, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the head of Egypts army, announced that Morsi was no longer in office during a speech on state television.
Police later began arresting key presidential aides and the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Sisi also suspended the countrys constitution, saying that new parliamentary elections will be held.
The army chief declared Head of Supreme Constitutional Court Adli Mansour as the interim president.
Morsi had said on his Facebook page that the armys move was a military coup, asking the Egyptians to abide by the constitution and the law and not to respond to this coup.
Egyptian security forces have detained two senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood close to Morsi. Rashad Bayoumi, the groups deputy leader, and Saad al-Katatni, the leader of the Brotherhoods political arm, were arrested just hours after Morsis overthrow.
State media also reported that arrest warrants had been issued for a total of 300 Brotherhood officials.
Egyptian army troops have been deployed throughout the country amid clashes between the supporters and opponents of Morsi.
According to Egyptian security officials, at least seven people have died in clashes between security forces and Morsis supporters in the city of Alexandria and the eastern city of Marsa Matrouh.
Following Morsis overthrow, prominent opposition leader Amr Moussa said talks for a new Egyptian government had started.
Consultations will start from now, for a government and reconciliation, said the former Arab League chief. This is the end of Morsis regime. Its over.
In reaction to the events in Egypt, US President Barack Obama expressed deep concern over the Egyptian armys removal of Morsi and urged a quick return to a civilian government.
I now call on the Egyptian military to move quickly and responsibly to return full authority back to a democratically elected civilian government as soon as possible, Obama said in a statement.
The statement also said that Obama had ordered a review of the implications for the USD 1.3-billion annual US military aid to Egypt as well as millions more in economic assistance in the wake of the removal of Morsi.
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also called for a swift return to democracy in Egypt.
I am following closely developments in Egypt and am fully aware of the deep divisions in society, popular demands for political change and efforts at brokering a compromise, Ashton said in a statement.
I urge all sides to rapidly return to the democratic process, including the holding of free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections and the approval of a constitution, she added.
Saudi King Abdullah, however, congratulated Adli Mansour, saying his appointment comes at a critical time in the history of Egypt.
On behalf of the people of Saudi Arabia, I congratulate you for taking over the leadership of Egypt at this critical time in its history, Abdullah said in an astonishingly quick message of congratulation to Mansour.
By Press TV
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
