The Egyptian military has thrown former President Morsi from his position of power, in a coup that will put the country's constitution on hold and install an interim government to replace the leader that won Cairo's first democratic election a mere year and a half ago.
General Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi told CNN that the Egyptian armed forces carryied out its "historic responsibility" to keep watch over the nation by demanding that Morsi step down.
Many Egyptians, including the General, claimed that the Western-educated Islamist member of the Muslim Brotherhood "did not achieve the goals of the people," and did not meet demands to properly allocate power with the opposition that have flooded the streets of Cairo and Tahrir Square over the past week.
When Egyptian television made the announcement at around 9 p.m. local time, millions of Egyptian citizens gathered in Tahrir Square erupted into cheers, setting off fireworks, crying, laughing, popping noisemakers and embracing one another.
Morsi supporters responded in anger elsewhere, the New York Times reported. In the city of Alexandria, the opposition was pitted against presidential supporters, breaking into fights with rocks and bricks. Some reported that gunfire was heard in the vicinity.
After the General issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Morsi on Monday, urging him to respond to the issues brought up by protesters and insisting he resign from his post, Morsi rejected the military's call for him to step down.
"Dr. Mohamed Morsi, the president of the Arab Republic of Egypt, emphasizes that the measures taken by the General Command of the armed forces represent a complete military coup, which is categorically rejected by all the free of the country who have struggled so that Egypt turns into a civil democratic society," a statement released by the former president's office read.
But by 6:30 p.m., the military had already assembled in front of the presidential palace with tanks and troops. And come 9 in the evening, Morsi was gone.
