Military coup underway in Egypt: top Morsi aide

Egypt's powerful military today deployed tanks and troops close to the presidential palace, as a top aide of embattled President Mohammed Morsi said a coup was underway in the country after the Islamist leader refused to quit following the end of a 48-hour army deadline.
"For the sake of Egypt and for historical accuracy, let's call what is happening by its real name: Military coup," Essam al-Haddad, 61-year-old Morsi's national security adviser, said in a statement posted on Facebook, warning of "considerable bloodshed".
"As I write these lines I am fully aware that these may be the last lines I get to post on this page," Haddad said.

The state-run Middle East News Agency reported tonight that leaders of the country's Muslim and Christian communities would join military leaders and opposition figures to lay out an agreement "to exit the current political crisis."
According to the official MENA news agency, the roadmap is to consist of a "short" transition period followed by both presidential and parliamentary elections.
The state-run Al-Ahram newspaper, citing "a senior official source," reported that Morsi "is no longer a part of the decision-making circle."

Media reports said that the beleaguered President was under house arrest but military sources denied such claims.
Airport officials said a travel ban has been issued against Morsi. They said that ban on Morsi has to do with his escape from prison with more than 30 other Muslim Brotherhood members during the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak.

Also banned from travel was Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie, his deputy Khairat el-Shater.
Egypt edged closer to a return to rule by the army generals as both sides refused to back down with the 48-hour military deadline for Morsi to resolve the ongoing political crisis coming to an end.
The Egyptian military moved into key sites in Cairo hours after its ultimatum passed for Morsi to resolve the political crisis.
Egypt remained tense as crowds poured into the streets to demand Morsi's resignation.
"The presidency envisions the formation of a consensus coalition government to oversee the next parliamentary election," the President's office said in a statement earlier posted on Facebook.

Morsi reaffirmed his call for a national dialogue and the formation of a panel to amend the country's controversial Islamist-drafted constitution. He insisted on continuing as the President.