Egyptian Presidency via AFP - Getty Images
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi (center) meets with Prime Minister Hisham Kandil (third left) and other ministers in Cairo on Monday.
By Charlene Gubash and Ian Johnston, NBC News
CAIRO - Barack Obama urged Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi to listen to "the voices of all Egyptians" amid widespread protests calling for the Islamist's ouster, the White House said Tuesday.
Obama made the comments in a phone call to Morsi on Monday, when Egypt?s military issued Morsi with a 48-hour ultimatum to meet the demands of the people after 16 people died and hundreds were injured in anti-government protests.
The Egyptian military has given the country's first democratically-elected president, Mohammed Morsi, an ultimatum to meet the people's demands or get out. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
The military said in a statement that if its deadline was not met, it would step in and impose its own road map for the future. It was unclear whether the army was actually calling for Morsi to stand down.?
Morsi rejected the ultimatum in a statement issued at almost 2 a.m. local time Tuesday (8 p.m. Monday ET), with his office saying his administration would continue on its "previously plotted path" toward reconciliation.
The White House statement said Obama told Morsi during the call that the United States was ?committed to the democratic process in Egypt and does not support any single party or group.?
But the president also ?stressed that democracy is about more than elections.?
?It is also about ensuring that the voices of all Egyptians are heard and represented by their government, including the many Egyptians demonstrating throughout the country,? the statement said.
Obama encouraged Morsi ?to take steps to show that he is responsive to their concerns, and underscored that the current crisis can only be resolved through a political process.?
Suhaib Salem / Reuters
The headquarters of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood was ransacked as widespread protests against President Mohammed Morsi turned violent.
?President Obama also underscored his deep concern about violence during the demonstrations, especially sexual assaults against female citizens,? the White House said. ?He reiterated his belief that all Egyptians protesting should express themselves peacefully, and urged President Morsy to make clear to his supporters that all forms of violence are unacceptable.?
Morsi rejected the army?s ultimatum early Tuesday, with his administration saying it was ?going forward on its previously plotted path to promote comprehensive national reconciliation ... regardless of any statements that deepen divisions between citizens.?
It said that it was not consulted about the army?s ultimatum and ?the presidency sees that some of the statements in it carry meanings that could cause confusion in the complex national environment.?
On the call with Obama, Morsi?s office said the U.S. was ?working with the Egyptian leadership elected by the Egyptian people and supports peaceful democratic conditions in Egypt.?
?The president confirmed that Egypt is moving forward in a peaceful democratic transition built on constitution and law,? Morsi?s office said.
It also said that Egypt?s ?democratic, civil, modern state? was ?the most important achievement? of the revolution that deposed former President Hosni Mubarak.
Protesters attacked and stormed the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo, calling for Egypt's president Mohammed Morsi to step down. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
?We will not allow Egypt with all its forces to return backward under any circumstances,? Morsi?s office said. ?Egypt has paid dearly from the blood of its sons and its stability and security and its delayed the path to development, these are the high prices it paid to build a new state. We all chose democratic means as the only safest way to manage our differences of opinion."
Ian Johnston reported from London.
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This story was originally published on Tue Jul 2, 2013 5:26 AM EDT
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