CAIRO: Senior military commanders in Egypt have held emergency talks on Wednesday after President Mohamed Morsi rejected their 48-hour ultimatum to resolve the current crisis, a source close to the military said.
The meeting comes ahead of a 4:30 pm deadline for the leader to “meet the demands of the people” — who took to the streets in their millions on Sunday demanding he go — or face army intervention.
Meanwhile, at least 16 people were killed and 200 wounded on Wednesday when gunmen opened fire on supporters of President Mohamed Morsi who were rallying outside Cairo University, state television quoted a Health Ministry spokesman as saying.
Security sources said pro-Morsi demonstrators clashed with security forces. They put the death toll at 18.
Witnesses said they heard shotgun and rifle fire.
“Police attacked the protesters in their uniforms, using state-issued machine guns and ammunition,” said Gehad El-Haddad, spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood.
