Egypt's military suspended the constitution and ordered new elections, ousting the country's first freely elected president after he defied army demands to implement radical reforms or step down.
Radical Islamists such as Mohamed al-Zawahiri, a leader of Egypt's radical Jihadi movement and the brother of al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, promised his followers Wednesday they would have "the upper hand" should the military follow
through with its
threatened coup. A day earlier, Morsi made a speech promising to defend his right to the presidency with his blood.
At least 16 people were killed overnight in clashes at Cairo University, where pro-Morsi demonstrators had gathered.
Throngs of his followers in the Muslim Brotherhood surrounded his headquarters with hardhats and shields promising to protect him.