The head of Egypt’s army has given a TV address, announcing that President Mohammed Morsi is no longer in office.
Gen Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said the constitution had been suspended and the chief justice of the constitutional court would take on Mr Morsi’s powers.
Flanked by religious and opposition leaders, Gen Sisi said Mr Morsi had “failed to meet the demands of the Egyptian people”.
Read it all and the Live: Crisis in Egypt website from the BBC has a lot of good information.
I have received by email (I’m on a list) Bishop Mouneer’s happy statement titled “Mabruk ya Misr” (Congratulations O Egypt). Presumably it will be posted online fairly soon. We have received also a text message from a Coptic friend in Cairo saying, “Thanks God.” The plan calls for early elections, untainted by Brotherhood manipulation, and a replacement, less Islamist Constitution. I think the masses who were in the streets do not view this a military coup but rather as getting their revolution back.
So while there are possibly troubles ahead, let us rejoice this evening with Egyptian Christians and join in their hopes.