Lightning Times

Egypt Army to Morsi: You're Fired

Live updates from Al-Arabiyyah.

7:10 pm The Egyptian military temporarily suspends the constitution and ousts Islamist President Mohammed Mursi

Stratfor: How is this coup different from all other coups?

There is a great debate underway in Egypt on whether the move to oust President Mohammed Morsi is tantamount to a military coup. Considering that the Egyptian army is forcibly removing a democratically elected president in the wake of nation-wide unrest, the military intervention is indeed a coup. However, it differs from other coups in that direct military rule will not be imposed. ...

Reuters: Tanks move in, Morsi isolated.

Egypt's army deployed tanks and troops close to the presidential palace in Cairo on Wednesday after a military deadline for Islamist President Mohamed Mursi to yield to street protests passed without any agreement.

Mursi's national security adviser said a military coup was under way as armed forces commander General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met political, religious and youth leaders. ...

Protesters Burn Muslim Brotherhood Headquarters in Cairo

The Blaze has 21 pictures showing what's left of the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters after it's been burned, wrecked, and looted by Egyptian demonstrators.

After clashes raged overnight, protesters managed to breach the compound’s defenses and storm the six-story building early Monday, carting off furniture, files, rugs, blankets, air conditioning units and portraits of Morsi, according to an Associated Press journalist at the scene. One protester emerged with a pistol and handed it over to a policeman outside.

Footage on local TV networks showed smashed windows, blackened walls and smoke billowing out of the fortified villa in the Muqatam district in eastern Cairo. A fire was still raging on one floor hours after the building was stormed. One protester tore down the Muslim Brotherhood sign from the building’s front wall, while another hoisted Egypt’s red, black and white flag out an upper-story window and waved it in the air in triumph. ...