Opposition protesters wave Egyptian flags and shout slogans against President Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood during a protest in Cairo on June 30, 2013.<\/p>\n
Egypt\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s opposition has set July 2 as a deadline for President Mohamed Morsi to step down, amid ongoing protests against the government.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cWe give Mohamed Morsi until 5:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Tuesday July 2 to leave power, allowing state institutions to prepare for early presidential elections,\u201d said a Monday statement by Egypt\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s opposition movement of Tamarod.\n<\/p>\n
Cairo and other Egyptian cities witnessed major demonstrations for and against President Morsi on Sunday. Reports say seven people died and hundreds more were wounded in unrest.\n<\/p>\n
The Egyptian opposition movement warned that if Morsi does not resign until the deadline, the protesters will begin \u00c5\u201ca complete civil disobedience campaign.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Tamarod also urged \u00c5\u201cstate institutions including the army, the police and the judiciary to clearly side with the popular will as represented by the crowds\u201d on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The movement rejected presidential calls for dialogue, saying, \u00c5\u201cThere is no alternative other than the peaceful end of power of the Muslim Brotherhood and its representative, Mohamed Morsi.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
The massive protests on Sunday came on the first anniversary of Morsi\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s inauguration as president following the 2011 revolution that toppled the Western-backed regime of Hosni Mubarak.\n<\/p>\n
In a televised address on June 26, Morsi said the polarization of the country\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s political life is \u00c5\u201cthreatening to paralyze\u201d Egypt.\n<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that he had made some mistakes during his first year in office but called for national reconciliation, saying that he was open to cooperating with the opposition on constitutional reform.\n<\/p>\n
On June 27, Egypt\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front (NSF), rejected the president\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s offer.\n<\/p>\n
The NSF claimed that Morsi had failed to take responsibility for the deep political polarization in the country and the failed economy.\n<\/p>\n
Morsi\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s supporters, however, say the president is cleansing Egyptian institutions of corruption but needs time to realize the ideals of the revolution.\n<\/p>\n
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