LIVE – Millions take over the streets of Egypt

Watch the Live Broadcast from Tahrir Sqaure, Egypt

Video By AP/Reuters/Channel 2 News

Is the protest reaching its boiling point? Millions are gathering this evening (Sunday) in Tahrir square in Cairo and in front of the presidential palace. Thousands more are protesting in the Egyptian cities of Port Said and Alexandria. Later this evening, protestors are expected to march from Tahrir square towards the presidential palace.

President Morsi himself, whose removal protestors are demanding, interviewed earlier with the British newspaper the Guardian saying that he will not allow a second revolution. Egypt’s presidential speaker Ihab Fahmi joined Morsi in saying “A dialog is the only way to escape the current crisis and reach an understanding” and according to him “the presidency is open to to true and serious national dialog”.

Protests during the day have been of a quiet nature. Protestors are calling out against Morsi and some are also calling out against the US that according to them is supporting Morsi, but no disruptions of order have been noted. In addition, protestors and police forces are facing difficult and hot weather conditions.

Since last Wednesday, the number of deaths in Egypt stands at 5, amongst them an American citizen who arrived in the country as part of a volunteer program that saw him teach children English. Protesters claim that President Morsi is providing the Muslim Brothers with a governmental monopoly and that the financial state in the country has only deteriorated since he took office.

In an interview former Israeli military chief Gabi Ashkenazi said that “Israel should be prepared for threats, but no there is no immediate threat from Egypt”.

Morsi: No intention of resigning

President Morsi rejected the opposition’s call for his resignation and their call for reelections. According to him, he will not tolerate disruptions of order being held against the law. Morsi added that he does not intend to resign since such a move will harm the legitimacy of the regime and that of his successor. “A resignation will cause chaos” he claimed, “if we replace he who was chosen according to the constitution, there will always be an opposition to a new president. It can take a week or a moth, but eventually his resignation will be demanded as well.      

The mob conquered the streets Photography: Channel 2 News

“There is no room to speak against the legitimacy of the constitution” Morsi, who reportedly has been moved into hiding in one of the military bases, claimed. “There can be protests and people can express their opinions, but they must embrace the constitution – that is the main point.”

Morsi, who is at the center of the biggest storm Egypt has known this past year, is described by the British paper as self assured in himself, and his political power. When asked if he is certain that the military will not be needed in order to intervene in a country that has become almost uncontrollable, Morsi said he was “Very” certain.

“Rage Protests” begin. Photography: AP

During the hour long interview, Morsi suggested several times that state official, who had remained from Mubarak’s term, are what held back the major reforms – the lack of reform being the cause of the protest. Laying blame he said that “It is caused by the corruption of some of the people from the old regime”