Egypt's president refuses to step down

Cairo - Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi has rejected calls for his resignation, saying that he is Egypt's "guardian of legitimacy" after three days of nationwide pro- and anti-government demonstrations, that have drawn millions to the streets. His speech was a response to the protests, and to an ultimatum from Egypt's military, which on Tuesday said it would issue a political "road map" unless Morsi resolved the crisis in 48 hours. Morsi had earlier dismissed the ultimatum, demanding in a message posted on Twitter that the army rescind it. In his televised speech on Tuesday night, Morsi accused members of former president Hosni Mubarak's regime of trying to topple his government and undermine the revolution. Follow spotlight coverage of the struggling young democracy "There is no substitute for legitimacy," Morsi said in the 45-minute late-night address. "The revolution of January 25 will achieve its goals. Legitimacy will be safeguarded, and I am willing to give my own life to protect it." Just hours after his speech, the health ministry reported that unidentified gunman had killed 16 people and wounded at least 200 more after opening fire on a rally of his supporters in the capital. At least seven other people were killed and dozens more injured in clashes in Cairo between the president's supporters and opponents. Morsi's speech was received with a mix of anger and disbelief among the vast crowd of protesters gathered outside the presidential palace. His remarks were punctuated several times by loud chants of "irhal!" - "leave!" http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/07/201372233516913164.html