Also present were representatives of the Salafist Al-Nur party, the Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, and members of the Tamarod movement that organised the anti-Morsi protests.
Military spokesman Colonel Ahmed Aly said the armed forces general command had “held talks with religious, political, national and youth leaders” and that it would issue a statement as soon the meeting is over.
In an early morning speech, Morsi said he had been freely elected to lead Egypt a little more than a year ago and intended to stick to his task. The only alternative was more bloodshed, he warned.
Upping the stakes, senior armed forces commanders meeting on Wednesday swore to defend Egypt with their lives, a source close to the military told AFP.
“We swear to God that we will sacrifice our blood for Egypt and its people against all terrorists, extremists and the ignorant,” they declared in an oath led by General Sisi, the source said.
Egypt’s press predicted Wednesday would be the day of Morsi’s departure.
“Today: Ouster or Resignation,” splashed the state-owned mass circulation Al-Ahram. “The End,” declared the independent Al-Watan.
Aside from Tahrir and Nasr City, Cairo’s streets were unusually quiet Wednesday, with many choosing to stay home over fears of more violence.
“The Islamists declared war on the rest of the population yesterday. I’m very scared,” said resident Soha Abdelrahman.
Developments in Egypt hit world financial markets, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average looking past solid American employment data to register a 0.19 percent fall and New York crude hitting a 14-month peak on concerns the crisis could spread and disrupt supplies.
All eyes were on the military, after government daily Al-Ahram reported details of its roadmap for the future.
The plan provides for an interim administration, of up to one year, which would include the head of the supreme constitutional court and a senior army figure.
The constitution, controversially approved by Morsi’s Islamist allies in December, would be suspended for up to 12 months while a new one was drawn up and put to a referendum, before presidential and legislative elections.
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