Unfazed by mass protests demanding his ouster, Egypt's Mohammed Morsi today refused to quit as a deadline neared, setting the stage for a showdown with army as the beleaguered president and powerful military generals both pledged to sacrifice their lives to defend the country.
Egypt edged closer today to a return to rule by the army generals as a 48-hour military deadline for Morsi to resolve the ongoing political crisis appeared to be running out.
Egypt's first democratically elected President Morsi, who looked increasingly isolated as many of his cabinet colleagues abandoned him, said he had been elected in a free and fair poll to lead the nation and intended to stick to his task.
As clashes today killed 16 people and wounded over 200 at the Cairo University, the Interior Ministry sided with the army and vowed not to favour any one political movement over another.
Asserting that police "belong to the people", the ministry issued a statement to fully supports the army's stand over protecting "national security and the state's interests".
"The police apparatus renews its vow to... Protect citizens and vital state institutions and to preserve the security of the protesters.. The police belong to the people. They stand with equal distance from all political factions, and do not side with one faction at the expense of the other."
61-year-old Morsi, in a 46-minute emotional address televised live across the country, warned the only alternative to respecting the constitutional legitimacy of the office was further bloodshed on the streets.
Morsi said he would give his life for Egypt and insisted he is the legitimate leader and will not give in to "violence and thuggery" by resigning.
According to analysts, Morsi's statement showed that he and his party Muslim Brotherhood are ready to face the risk of challenging the powerful army.
Meanwhile, the health ministry said 23 people were killed and 200 others injured in violence between pro-and anti Morsi supporters at Cairo University in the Giza district in the capital since last night, taking the toll to 39 since Sunday.
Millions of people took to the streets this week under the banner of Tamarod (Arabic word for Rebellion) movement which is driving the campaign with a petition of signatures seeking Morsi's ouster and a snap election.
