Egypt: Reform leader ElBaradei, military to meet

[July 03, 2013]  CAIRO (AP) -- A senior opposition figure says pro-reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei, the top Muslim cleric of Al-Azhar Mosque and the Coptic pope are meeting the army chief to discuss a political road map for Egypt.

The Wednesday meeting takes place ahead of the military's afternoon deadline for Islamist president Mohammed Morsi to yield to the demands of millions of protesters or face intervention by the army.

Morsi has vowed not to step down in the face of three days of massive street demonstrations calling for his ouster. At least 39 people have died since the protests began on Sunday.

Khaled Daoud, spokesman of the main opposition National Salvation Front, which ElBaradei leads, announced the meeting.

[Associated Press; By HAMZA HENDAWI and MAGGIE MICHAEL]

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