Egypt's military says it is ready to defend the country against what it called terrorists and fools, hours after President Mohamed Morsi defiantly rejected its Wednesday deadline for reaching a deal with the opposition.
Egypt Tense as Deadline Approaches
![Anti-President Mohamed Mosi protesters hold up their shoes after a televised speech by Mr. Morsi, Tahrir Square in Cairo, July 3, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/39cf665a-7c20-4fcb-8872-d939d4527b26_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Anti-President Mohamed Mosi protesters hold up their shoes after a televised speech by Mr. Morsi, Tahrir Square in Cairo, July 3, 2013.
![Anti-President Mohamed Morsi protesters watch a speech by him on TV at a cafe in Tahrir Square in Cairo, July 2, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/e371024f-90c9-4cf1-b73e-456b0060c839_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Anti-President Mohamed Morsi protesters watch a speech by him on TV at a cafe in Tahrir Square in Cairo, July 2, 2013.
![Protesters opposing President Mohamed Morsi gather around a lit flare in Tahrir Square in Cairo July 3, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/14faab61-203f-41ba-ae05-a6e4a93b006d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Protesters opposing President Mohamed Morsi gather around a lit flare in Tahrir Square in Cairo July 3, 2013.
![Fireworks burst over opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in Tahrir Square in Cairo, July 2, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/fa167104-54d7-48a3-ba66-c9992fd1eac0_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Fireworks burst over opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in Tahrir Square in Cairo, July 2, 2013.