Celebrations in Cairo as Egyptian military suspends constitution

The head of Egypt's armed forces has suspended the constitution and appointed the head of the constitutional court as interim head of state.

In a televised broadcast, flanked by military leaders, religious authorities and political figures, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi effectively declared the removal of elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi.

General al-Sisi called for presidential and parliamentary elections, a panel to review the constitution and a national reconciliation committee that would include youth movements.

He said the roadmap had been agreed by a range of political groups.

The army said President Mursi had failed to meet demands of the Egyptian people and a technocratic government committee will review the constitution.

Egypt’s State-run paper, Al-Ahram said the army told president Mursi at 5pm GMT that he was no longer president.

Earlier a statement from President Mohammed Mursi's national security advisor said a military coup was under way.

Reports suggest a travel ban has been issued against Mr Mursi, and the Muslim Brotherhood chief and deputy chief.

Mr Mursi spent the day working as normal at a regular presidential office in a compound of the Republican Guard in suburban Cairo however it is unclear if the president will be free to leave the compound.

Soon after the army-imposed deadline passed, a military helicopter circled over the anti-Mursi crowds in Tahrir Square, which was transformed into a sea of furiously waving Egyptian flags.

Millions were in the main squares of major cities nationwide, demanding Mr Mursi's removal, in the fourth day of the biggest anti-government rallies the country has seen.

Troops including commandos and in full combat gear, deployed just as darkness fell across much of the Egyptian capital at key facilities, on bridges over the Nile River and at major intersections.

Earlier, the Egyptian presidency said a coalition government should be part of a solution but appeared to offer no new compromises.

A statement reiterated that President Mursi held opposition parties responsible for obstructing a political initiative that would also set up a panel to prepare amendments to the constitution passed into law last December.

Security sources reported that Egyptian troops with armoured vehicles had secured the central Cairo studios of state television.

Sources said staff not involved in working on live broadcasts had left the building.

The army said it had set no times for issuing statements or speeches as the deadline approached.

They said they were willing to shed blood against "terrorists and fools" after Mr Mursi refused to give up his elected office.

In an emotional, rambling television address last night, Mr Mursi said he was democratically elected and would stay in office to uphold the constitutional order, declaring: "The price of preserving legitimacy is my life."

State news agency MENA said civil servants were occupying the cabinet office and would not let Prime Minister Hisham Kandil enter the building.

The official spokesman of Mr Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood movement said supporters were willing to become martyrs to defend him.

At least 16 people, mostly supporters of the president, were killed and about 200 wounded when gunmen opened fire overnight on pro-Mursi demonstrators at Cairo University campus.

The Muslim Brotherhood accused uniformed police of the shooting. The Interior Ministry said it was investigating.

For the first time in many months, uniformed police were back patrolling the streets, and the Interior Ministry said in a statement it would "confront all forms of violence".

Fireworks and cheering erupted in Cairo's Tahrir Square after the army's commander told the people of Egypt that a political roadmap had been agreed with opposition and religious leaders.

US urges compromise in Egyptian crisis

The United States has urged compromise and defended the legitimacy of Mr Mursi's election to lead the biggest Arab nation.

President Barack Obama told Mr Mursi by telephone that talks with opponents were needed.

Mr Mursi said on Twitter that he would not be "dictated to internally or internationally".

A senior European diplomat said world powers would have no choice but to condemn the military removal of an elected head of state, even if the generals have support on the streets.