What you need to know about Egypt

Nation's 1st democratically elected president is overthrown, what it means for U.S., region


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    A little more than two years after Egypt ousted it's autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak, the country's military deposed Egypt's first democratically president, Mohammed Morsi, to the joy of millions of anti-government protesters who accused the Islamist leader of abusing his authority. Here are key questions and answers about the latest turmoil in the Arab world's most populous country, one of America's most important allies in the region.

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    Who is running Egypt?

    The chief judge of the Supreme Constitutional Court Adly Mansour was installed by the armed forces as interim president after Morsi's ouster. Mansour, 67, was appointed to the court by Morsi's predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, but elevated to the chief justice post only two days before the Islamist leader was deposed. After his swearing-in ceremony, Mansour delivered an address praising the massive street demonstrations that led to Morsi's ouster.

  • Egyptian army soldiers stand alert in front of the constitutional court where Egypt's chief justice Adly Mansour was sworn in the nation's interim president Thursday, July 4, 2013.

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    Was it a military coup?

    The powerful military has insisted it's acting on the will of the people to clear the way for new leadership and not carrying out a coup, but it has clearly positioned itself to maintain control or the time being, rounding up figures in the deposed leader's Muslim Brotherhood, suspending the Islamist-backed constitution and dissolving the Islamist-dominated parliament. While cheering the military's intervention, some Egyptians worry it's already asserting too much control as it was criticized for doing after Mubarak's ouster.

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    What's happening with Morsi?

    The president, who was defiant in his final days in office, has been detained in an unknown location since being pushed him out Wednesday. His family was not with him; their whereabouts are unknown. So far the army has not said what will happen to him, but he could face charges related to a prison break during the chaotic uprising that ousted Mubarak in 2011, and possibly the death of protesters during his year in office. At least a dozen of his senior aides are under house arrest.

  • A supporter of ousted Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi reacts as an military helicopter flies over during a rally in Nasr City,Cairo, Thursday, July 4, 2013.

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    How are Morsi's supporters reacting?

    The Muslim Brotherhood insists the military carried out a coup and announced it wants nothing to do with the new political system. Thousands of Morsi's supporters rallied and protested in eastern Cairo, chanting: "We say it loudly, Morsi is the president of the republic." There are fears of a violent backlash from Islamists, particularly from hard-liners, and his supporters are calling for a major rally in his support Friday. But it's clear the ouster was a major blow to the Islamist movement.

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    How is the U.S. responding?

    Delicately and diplomatically, aware that the matter could affect U.S. national security and its credibility in promoting democracy round the world. The safety of Americans was a particular concern. President Barack Obama notably avoided using the word "coup" in his statement Wednesday night. That's because U.S. law denies foreign aid to any nation whose elected leader is ousted in a coup d'etat, and the U.S. considers backing up Egypt with $1.5 billion a year a national security priority.

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    What does change in leadership mean for peace and stability in Middle East?

    Morsi has been cool to Israel, but he also allowed military cooperation to continue and sometimes acted as a moderating influence. Under his watch Egypt brokered a cease fire between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip and the Egyptian military cracked down on arms smuggling into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. That cooperation with Israel is unlikely to change.

  • In this image made late Wednesday, July 3, 2013, opponents of Egypt's Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi wave national flags to a passing underground train as they celebrate Morsi's ouster in Cairo, Egypt.

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    What are longer prospects for the future of democracy in Egypt?

    If the armed forces statement holds true, then Egypt will have an elected parliament and president during a transition period of likely not more than a year. The military temporarily suspended the Islamist-backed constitution while setting up a panel of experts to amend the document to protect freedoms. Some ativists fear Morsi's ouster could usher in yet another era of army rule, but the military statement mentioned no political role for the armed forces.


