Tanks back in Cairo

Ahramonline,the governments official English-language Web site,said the military had informed Mr. Morsi that he was no longer head of state. There was no word on Morsis whereabouts.

The militarys actions came as enormous crowds of the presidents supporters and opponents filled the streets of the capital and soldiers were deployed in significant numbers to keep the spiraling political crisis from going out of complete control.

The developments came as street tensions intensified and a 48-hour deadline imposed by the military generals on the increasingly isolated president to meet the demands of millions of unhappy Egyptians came and went.

As the deadline ended military forces began moving around Cairo. Tanks and troops headed for the presidential palace while other soldiers ringed the nearby square where tens of thousands of the presidents supporters were rallying.

Many of the Islamists had armed themselves with makeshift clubs,shields made of potcovers or metal scraps and plastic hard hats,and there were small scuffles with the better-armed soldiers. Some soldiers fired their weapons in the air. But the military forces held back.

Morsis senior foreign policy adviser,Essam el-Haddad,issued an open letter Wednesday afternoon on his official Web page lamenting what he called the imminent takeover of Egypts first freely elected government.

As I write these lines I am fully aware that these may be the last lines I get to post on this page, he wrote. For the sake of Egypt and for historical accuracy,lets call what is happening by its real name: Military coup.

Security officials said the militarys intelligence service had banned any travel by President Morsi and senior Islamist aides,including the Muslim Brotherhoods supreme guide,Mohamed Badie,and his deputy,Khairat el-Shater.

People close to the president said at around the same time that talks with the generals continued but looked increasingly futile. A decisive move was expected within hours,these people said.

Morsi reiterated in a Facebook posting what he had said in a long and rambling televised speech Tuesday night,vowing to stay in power as Egypts president. The presidency reaffirms that violating constitutional legitimacy threatens democratic practice by veering off the right track, the statement said.

Past deadline

9:39 PM: Morsi spokesman military coup underway

9:11 PM: Travel ban issued against Morsi

8:15 PM: Morsi offers formation of coalition govt

8:00 PM: Army ultimatum expires

before deadline : Morsi says no intention to step down; Army takes over state TV

All times IST

Address concerns of countrymen,Obama tells Morsi

Washington: The US has conveyed to Cairo that it needs to listen to its people and address their concerns. President Barack Obama and his Secretary of State John Kerry delivered the US viewpoint on the crisis to their counterparts in Cairo. The President conveyed that its important to listen to the Egyptian people, State Department spokesperson,Jen Psaki,said. PTI