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| Egypt's cabinet orders police to end pro-Morsi sit-ins | Egypt's cabinet orders police to end pro-Morsi sit-ins |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Egypt's military-backed government has ordered police to end sit-ins by supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in the capital Cairo. | Egypt's military-backed government has ordered police to end sit-ins by supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in the capital Cairo. |
| "The cabinet has decided to take all measures necessary to confront these risks and put an end to them," an official said in a televised statement. | "The cabinet has decided to take all measures necessary to confront these risks and put an end to them," an official said in a televised statement. |
| The statement termed the continued rallies "a national security threat". | The statement termed the continued rallies "a national security threat". |
| Three top Muslim Brotherhood leaders have also been referred to court on charges of inciting violence. | Three top Muslim Brotherhood leaders have also been referred to court on charges of inciting violence. |
| The movement's supporters have been staging sit-ins for several weeks since President Morsi was removed on 3 July, after just one year in office. | |
| They have defied previous threats of removal from their sit-in protests, despite deadly clashes with security forces. | They have defied previous threats of removal from their sit-in protests, despite deadly clashes with security forces. |
| 'No longer acceptable' | 'No longer acceptable' |
| The main protest sit-in is at a square near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in the capital's north-east, where clashes erupted on Saturday in which 70 people, and in Nahda Square near the main campus of Cairo University. | The main protest sit-in is at a square near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in the capital's north-east, where clashes erupted on Saturday in which 70 people, and in Nahda Square near the main campus of Cairo University. |
| "The continuation of the dangerous situation in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares, and consequent terrorism and road blockages are no longer acceptable given the threat to national security," Information Minister Dorreya Sharaf el-Din said in the televised statement. | "The continuation of the dangerous situation in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares, and consequent terrorism and road blockages are no longer acceptable given the threat to national security," Information Minister Dorreya Sharaf el-Din said in the televised statement. |
| He said the police had been tasked to end the demonstrations "within the law and the constitution". | He said the police had been tasked to end the demonstrations "within the law and the constitution". |
| The interim government had earlier warned that any violation of the law would be dealt with "firmly". | The interim government had earlier warned that any violation of the law would be dealt with "firmly". |
| The step has appeared to pave a way for the removal of the sit-ins in the two areas, the BBC's Jim Muir says. | The step has appeared to pave a way for the removal of the sit-ins in the two areas, the BBC's Jim Muir says. |
| A Brotherhood spokesman told the BBC his supporters had no option but to stay put, saying the decision to clear the camps had been taken by a gang that had taken over the state and was trying to cheat the people of their democratic rights. | A Brotherhood spokesman told the BBC his supporters had no option but to stay put, saying the decision to clear the camps had been taken by a gang that had taken over the state and was trying to cheat the people of their democratic rights. |
| In another move against the group, Egyptian prosecutors referred Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie, his deputy Khairat al-Shater and senior leader Rashad Bayoum to trial over allegations of inciting the killing of protesters outside of their headquarters last month. | In another move against the group, Egyptian prosecutors referred Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie, his deputy Khairat al-Shater and senior leader Rashad Bayoum to trial over allegations of inciting the killing of protesters outside of their headquarters last month. |
| An African Union delegation confirmed on Wednesday that it had met Mr Morsi, who has not been seen in public since being ousted. | |
| He had received no official visitors until Tuesday, when he met EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton who said he was "well". | He had received no official visitors until Tuesday, when he met EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton who said he was "well". |
| The ousted leader has been formally remanded in custody at an undisclosed location, according to a judicial order. | The ousted leader has been formally remanded in custody at an undisclosed location, according to a judicial order. |
| He has been accused of the "premeditated murder of some prisoners, officers and soldiers" when he and several Muslim Brotherhood leaders were freed during a breakout at a Cairo prison in January 2011. | He has been accused of the "premeditated murder of some prisoners, officers and soldiers" when he and several Muslim Brotherhood leaders were freed during a breakout at a Cairo prison in January 2011. |
| He is alleged to have plotted attacks on jails in the uprising that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak. | He is alleged to have plotted attacks on jails in the uprising that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak. |
| Mr Morsi is also accused of conspiring with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip and has strong links with the Muslim Brotherhood. | Mr Morsi is also accused of conspiring with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip and has strong links with the Muslim Brotherhood. |
| He was overthrown by the military after mass rallies in which millions of Egyptians calling for his ouster took to the streets. |