Army looms large in Egyptian press
Many Egyptian papers express support for the current anti-government demonstrations, and accuse President Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood of being undemocratic.
One commentator even calls for the army to intervene and "liberate" the people, and the military option is mentioned in several papers.
Support for the authorities seems confined to the mouthpiece of the Muslim Brotherhood, which accuses the opposition of driving the country towards civil war. Even state-owned Al-Jumhuriyah acknowledges that the hopes of the revolution have not been satisfied.
Ibrahim Mansur in Al-Tahrir
The Muslim Brotherhood are a nightmare. They look down on democracy. They are despotic fascists who trade in religion… It is time to overthrow them so that people can enjoy democracy and a homeland that respects its citizens.
Wajdi Zein al-Din in opposition Al-Wafd
The rule of the Muslim Brotherhood must be overthrown, and it is inevitable that President Muhammad Morsi will step down… The enormous crowds in Egypt's squares and streets are enough to overthrow this regime… Egypt's great army should help the people to liberate themselves from these new occupiers.
Imad al-Din Hussein in Al-Shuruq
Regardless of the outcome of the popular protests against the Muslim Brotherhood and President Mohammed Morsi, the message which should reach them is that their popularity has declined immensely… When the majority of judges, journalists, intellectuals, diplomats, the police and the opposition are against you… and you insist on working alone… then it is very hard to say that you are right and everybody else is wrong…Will the Brotherhood learn the lesson or it is too late?
Editorial in state-owned Al-Jumhuriyah
Political powers and parties that have controlled the Egyptian political arena since the great January revolution have failed to reach a unified vision on how to rebuild the state in order to satisfy the aspirations of all Egyptians who took part in the uprising… This political division has brought the revolutionary masses back to city squares, so that they can be arbitrators in the struggle between conflicting political forces. The aim is to end this chapter of disagreement and open a new chapter of concord, and enable the revolution to resume its march towards building a progressive democratic state.
Muhammad Abd-al-Quddus in Muslim Brotherhood daily Al-Hurriyah wal Adalah
Those who want to overthrow the legitimate government are claiming that their protests are peaceful, but in most cases we have seen that violence is dominating the demonstrations in several cities… Supporters of the former regime, together with the opposition National Salvation Front, Tamarod and the extremist secular trend, comprising communists and Nasserites, are behind the violence. Together with criminals, they want to take revenge on the revolution… even if unrest turns into civil war. Then the army will take control and rule on their behalf.