Morse: Army statement may cause confusion

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi said Tuesday that an earlier statement by the defense minister may cause confusion and vowed to continue a plan based on national reconciliation to resolve the ongoing political crisis. "Some implications of the speech's phrases may add confusion to the already complicated scene," Morsi said in a statement in reference to Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi's ultimatum-like speech urging all parties to end their conflict within 48 hours. The presidency stressed that it would "continue its own plan for comprehensive national reconciliation regardless of any announcement that may deepen division among fellow citizens and undermine social peace." On Monday, Sisi set a 48-hour deadline for all parties to resolve the country's crisis before imposing a military-supervised roadmap on the future of the turmoil-stricken country. The military statement was hailed by throngs of anti-Morsi protesters and the main opposition bloc National Salvation Front, who interpreted it as a response to their demand that Islamist Morsi should step down. Later on Tuesday, Morsi received a phone call from U.S. President Barack Obama, who pressed for a peaceful democratic transition in the country. "The two presidents stressed keenness on constant communication," official news agency MENA quoted a presidential statement as saying, adding that they agreed on the necessity of peacefulness of protests and denounced any use of violence.