Egypt Army to Intervene if People's Demands Not Met in 48 Hours, Brotherhood Says 'Studying' Warning

Egypt's armed forces warned on Monday that it will intervene if the people's demands are not met within 48 hours, after millions took to the streets to demand the resignation of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.

In a statement read out on state television, the armed forces reiterated its "call that the demands of the people be met and gives (all parties) 48 hours, as a last chance, to take responsibility for the historic circumstances the country is going through."

"If the demands of the people are not met in this period... (the armed forces) will announce a future roadmap and measures to oversee its implementation," the statement said.

On June 23, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, defense minister and armed forces chief, warned that the military would intervene to prevent unrest in the country.

Egypt is deeply divided between Morsi's Islamist supporters and a broad-based opposition.

The army had given all parties one week to reconcile their differences.

"This week, there has been no sign of gestures or acts," the army said.

"Wasting more time will lead only to more division... which we have warned and continue to warn against," the army said.

It said the implementation of its roadmap would happen "with the participation of all factions and national trends, including the youth, which was and continues to (take) the glorious revolution (forward)."

The Muslim Brotherhood announced that it was "studying" the army's statement, a senior leader said.

"The Muslim Brotherhood is studying the army statement," Mahmud Ghozlan told Agence France Presse.

He said the movement's political bureau would meet to "decide on its position."

Meanwhile, the opposition Tamarod group, which was behind Sunday's protests that saw millions in the streets calling on Morsi to resign, hailed the army for siding with the people.

In Tahrir Square, thousands of protesters erupted in joy after the military's statement, an Agence France Presse journalist said.

"Come down Sissi, Morsi is not my president," they protesters chanted, urging the country's army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, to intervene.

On the streets of Cairo, cars beeped their horns and waved Egyptian flags after the army statement.