Egypt's Morsi vows to protect democratic 'legitimacy'

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi on Tuesday vowed to protect democratic 'legitimacy' with his life during an address to the nation. In a televised speech, Morsi said: "If the price against safeguarding legitimacy is my blood, then I am willing to shed my blood.
"Egyptians declared and defined their path - the path of freedom, democracy, justice & social justice. I have no option to but to carry out the responsibilities given to me.
"There is no alternative to the legitimacy, legitimacy that came through the ballot box.
"I am adamant as I declared Egypt has its own free will. It will move forward, achieve growth, productivity of food, medicine and arts.
"We created a great constitution on September 25. Countries spend years trying to draft a constitution," he added.
He also accused remnants of the former regime of taking advantage of  the anger of the youth.
"Remnants of the previous regime cannot thrive in democracy. They are taking advantage of lawful anger of youth," he asserted.
Earlier, on Twitter, he called on the army to withdraw its threat to intervene unless he resolves his differences with his opponents
"President Morsi insists on (his) constitutional legitimacy and rejects any attempt to overstep it," a message said.
"(He) calls on the armed forces to withdraw their warning and rejects any dictates, domestic or foreign."
Military sources denied that they would issue a  joined presidential-military statement. The army has given political parties in Egypt 48 hours to find a solution to the current crisis, saying it would draft a road map for the future if there was no progress. On Tuesday, military sources told news agency Reuters that the army had drafted a 'roadmap' to end nationwide anti-government protests. According to reports, the roadmap would suspend the constitution and dissolve the Islamist-led parliament. The army would also propose a plan for the interim council to rule until the constitution is changed, followed by a presidential election. The army's 48-hour deadline ends on Wednesday
Meanwhile, opposition alliance National Salvation Front said the president's defiance of army sets the country on a course of confrontation and violence. Co-leader of the coalition Hamdeen Sabahi argued that the president's stubborn attitude would only "lead to bloodshed," as he confirmed that his colleague Mohamed ElBaradei would represent the opposition in talks with the army.
Elsewhere, 37 people were injured in clashes between supporters and opponents of Morsi in Alexandria Qalyubia.
Twenty-two people were injured in Egypt's second largest city, Alexandria, when Morsi's supporters clashes with residents of the Agami district.
"The people want to apply the law of God!" chanted a few hundred supporters of the Islamist president.
The supporters shot gunfire in order to disperse the opponents who were trying to obstruct the rally. The security forces fired teargas to disperse both sides.
Seventeen people were injured in those clashes according to a health ministry official. Five others were injured in clashes that occurred in Alexandria's Sidi-Bishr district.
In Qalyubia, 15 people were injured when the two sides clashed in Atreeb area and fired birdshots at each other; the state news agency reported. Security forces intervened and used tear gas to disperse the parties.