{{Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi has rejected calls for his resignation, saying that he is Egypt\u2019s “guardian of legitimacy” after three days of nationwide pro- and anti-government demonstrations, that have drawn millions to the streets.}}<\/p>\n
His speech was a response to the protests, and to an ultimatum from Egypt\u2019s military, which on Tuesday said it would issue a political “road map” unless Morsi resolved the crisis in 48 hours. <\/p>\n
Morsi had earlier dismissed the ultimatum, demanding in a message posted on Twitter that the army rescind it.<\/p>\n
In his televised speech on Tuesday night, Morsi accused members of former president Hosni Mubarak\u2019s regime of trying to topple his government and undermine the revolution.<\/p>\n
“There is no substitute for legitimacy,” Morsi said in the 45-minute late-night address. “The revolution of January 25 will achieve its goals. Legitimacy will be safeguarded, and I am willing to give my own life to protect it.”<\/p>\n
Just hours after his speech, the health ministry reported that unidentified gunman had killed 16 people and wounded at least 200 more after opening fire on a rally of his supporters in the capital.<\/p>\n
At least seven other people were killed and dozens more injured in clashes in Cairo between the president’s supporters and opponents.<\/p>\n
Morsi\u2019s speech was received with a mix of anger and disbelief among the vast crowd of protesters gathered outside the presidential palace.<\/p>\n
His remarks were punctuated several times by loud chants of “irhal!” – “leave!”<\/p>\n
“Legitimacy? It\u2019s like he was trying to convince himself,” said demonstrator Nader Amer.<\/p>\n
The president invoked the idea of legitimacy dozens of times in his speech, saying that he was obligated as Egypt\u2019s first democratically-elected president to remain in office.<\/p>\n
“What legitimacy? Look around, look at the millions in Cairo and the governorates,” he said, referring to the anti-government protesters gathered nationwide.<\/p>\n
The president\u2019s speech was greeted with cheers in Cairo\u2019s Nasr City neighbourhood, however, where thousands of his supporters have been staging a sit-in since Friday.<\/p>\n
{aljazeera}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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