Egypt's military blames candidates for ongoing election unrest, warns Tahrir protesters

Egyptian supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate for president, Mohammed Morsi, attend Friday prayers in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, Friday, June 22, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Bernat Armangue

(CBS News) CAIRO - The Egyptian military has issued a warning to tens of thousands of demonstrators gathering at Tahrir Square: any sign of violence will be met with a firm response.

In a statement read on Egyptian TV, the ruling military blamed both presidential candidates for causing trouble by, in essence, claiming victory before the official election results are announced.

Without naming the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi and former general Ahmed Shafiq, the council said premature victory announcements were "unjustifiable" and one of the main causes of division and confusion in the country.

Both candidates say they're confident of winning. Morsi said so on Sunday not long after the polls closed, and Shafiq, who served as the last prime minister of former leader Hosni Mubarak, expressed the same sentiment in a speech just last night.

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The military council also warned that it will defend against public disorder, a message aimed at tens of thousands of the mainly Muslim Brotherhood supporters gathering at Tahrir Square.

The military said demonstrators were free to protest, but any efforts to cause public harm would not be tolerated - basically a veiled warning of "we'll allow so much, but don't push it."

The number of demonstrators has increased dramatically following Friday prayers that were held in the square.

By Friday night, once the 100-degree plus heat cools off, huge numbers are expected, possibly on a scale not seen since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak last year.

Protestors are also demonstrating against what some see as a blatant power grab by the ruling military.

The council defended a constitutional declaration announced earlier this week that severely limits the powers of the incoming president.

The new decree gives the military sweeping powers, including a hold over foreign policy, creation of new legislation, and the right to select a panel to draft a new constitution - essentially a green light to write the new rule book.

The results of the election were due to be announced Thursday. But since Tuesday supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood have come by the tens of thousands, despite soaring temperatures.

The election results may be made public by Sunday, and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood have already warned that a win by the Shafiq, still seen by some as a symbol of the old guard, could only have been rigged, and it's not something they're going to accept.

Once again, Egypt faces a moment of truth, and everybody here is bracing for what's to come this weekend.

[Plaisham]

Scary picture. And if you think for one monute this fanatic is going to allow ANY rights for women you better think again. Come back in 6 months and see.

[Nikos_Retsos]

If the Egyptian military is warning and threatening the protesters in Tahrir Square, it means that it has ordered the Egyptian Electoral Commission to cook the results and declare Ahmed Shafik as the winner. And in advance of this announcement, the military is probably trying to get ahead of the curve, and scare the protesters to swallow the announcement and go home!

The Egyptian protesters, however, have already sacrificed 804 of their own to get where they are now. And I don't think that they are going to back down now that they are half-way there! Nikos Retsos, retired professor

[Massresident]

The restoration of a military dictatorship in Egypt is something The US could and should stop. The Egyptian military is entirely reliant on foreign aid from us and we have no reason to keep sending money to a government that is not legitimate.

If the generals go ahead with their coup, we are going to be held responsible for the resulting violence because we are supplying and paying for the bullets. Muslim radicals have long accused us of supporting dictatorships in the Middle East and it would be better to prove them wrong.

[danwindham1]

This is reletaively normal for what is essentially a complete change in government. This is the beginning of a new Egypt, and both sides are going to assume that the winner was rigged. The military in temporary power is going to try to keep as much power as possible, and the people are going to have to work to get that back over time. The Egyptians are uneasy and impatient because its been over a year since their government fell apart. Can you imagine if America had no president for a whole year and military leaders were running everything? we'd be going bonkers.

[davemartin12345]

What an ugly mo-fo in the picture. They're all ugly drama queens waving their arms little girl who want attention.

[davemartin12345]

What an ugly mofo in the picture. They're all ugly drama queens.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
what is happening in Egypt is distressing, manipulated by some Arabic media , Egyptians have become violent, aggressive and impatient, this irresponsible conduct can lead Egypt to drift, if it did, the regrets will be useless .
the question that annoys is: why this anticipation on the part of the Egyptians?
Egyptians are aware of the rules, they voted, made their choice, and whatever the outcome is, they must accept it.
"au revoir"

[drcbs]

Don't all candidates everywhere? That's the nature of politics.

[drcbs]

Don't all candidates everywhere?