Egypt's Morsi Preps Decree for Martial Law

Military warns of 'disastrous consequences'
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 8, 2012 9:00 AM CST
Egypt's Morsi Preps Decree for Martial Law
Egyptian army soldiers stand guard during a demonstration in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Dec. 7, 2012.    (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

With thousands of protesters still crying for his ouster on Cairo's streets, President Mohamed Morsi has prepared a decree to impose martial law, according to Egyptian media. Morsi hasn't issued it yet, but the order comes on the heels of the military warning of "disastrous consequences" if the crisis is not resolved. An unnamed military official said on television that dialogue is the "best and only" way to settle differences over Morsi's recent power grab and a draft constitution slated for referendum vote next Saturday, reports the New York Times.

"Anything other than [dialogue] will force us into a dark tunnel with disastrous consequences; something which we won't allow," the official said, reports the AP. Reaching no consensus "is in the interest of neither side," he said. "The nation as a whole will pay the price." (More Egypt protests stories.)

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