Mohamed Morsi has been removed as president of Egypt

After vowing that he would not leave office yesterday, Mohammed Morsi has been removed as president of Egypt. The constitution of that nation has been suspended, and the chief justice of the constitutional court, Adli Mansour, has been named as the interim leader by the head of the Egyptian military, Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. While the takeover has been characterized as a military coup by Morsi and his chief security adviser, it has apparently been well-received by the masses still congregated from the protests in Tahrir Square and around Egypt.

Fox News reports:

Fireworks and cheers erupted from the millions gathered in Tahrir Square after the announcement was made.

Earlier in the day, an army deadline for Morsi to resolve Egypt’s political crisis expired.

Top military officials and opposition leaders met Wednesday and agreed on a political roadmap for the country’s future, calling for early presidential and parliamentary elections, el-Sissi said. A new presidential cabinet will be formed as well as a national reconciliation committee, which will include youth movements that have been behind anti-Morsi demonstrations.

Morsi said on his presidential Facebook page that he rejected el-Sissi’s statement, according to Reuters. An aide says he has been moved to an undisclosed location.

El-Sissi said the military will deal “decisively” with any violence sparked by the announcements.

The Egyptian military has seized control of the government, but this is supposed to be another temporary arrangement, until the people have the opportunity to elect a new leader. Where the current leaders, and the Muslim Brotherhood will be in that process remains to be seen. Observers should also be watching for any political moves made by Salafist community leaders, and the military response to the ongoing sexual assaults and violence that have been a part of the current round of protests.