News

Morsi Ousted From Presidency in Egypt

by Ariana Tobin

After a long afternoon of watching and waiting, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is out, the Constitution has been suspended, and an interim government has been appointed. Morsi and his Islamist supporters decry what they are calling a "complete military coup," while the Army claims to be responding to the will of the people.

Opposition leaders from the Dostour party (the Constitution party), the Tamarod youth movement, and the Al Nour party (an ultra-conservative religious group) appeared on State TV to endorse the Army's "roadmap" plan. The U.S. evacuated its embassies, but made little comment on the still-unfolding action.

In Tahrir Square, huge crowds cheered the announcement.

For a play-by-play of how it happened, take a look at the updates we logged throughout the day .

In a defiant, impassioned speech on Tuesday night, the president called himself "Egypt's guardian of legitimacy," citing the democratic elections that gave him power a year earlier. In the hours since, the military has deployed troops to sieze the state TV station, sending most staff away.

Hundreds of thousands of anti-Morsi protestors gathered in Tahrir Square, and clashes between the groups have grown increasingly violent, with at least 18 people killed at Cairo University Tuesday night alone. Thus far, however, the regime switch has been considered relatively bloodless. Egypt-watchers say much will depend on the next few days—and of course, the next few months—as the Army and its supporters once again take hold of the country.