IT’S 24 HOURS since the Egyptian army instigated a coup against the country’s first democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi.

World powers have hedged their bets by calling for a return to democracy but not condemning the overthrow of the Islamist leader.

The United States and European Union both indicated that aid to Egypt will not immediately be affected while Russia and China have hinted that they view events there as a popular uprising rather than a coup.

Middle Eastern governments meanwhile have welcomed the toppling of Morsi after days of bloody protests, with war-hit Syria hailing the “great achievement” but others fearing that the unrest could spread.

US President Barack Obama said Egypt’s future “can only be determined by the Egyptian people” but added that he was “deeply concerned by the decision of the Egyptian armed forces to remove president Morsi and suspend the Egyptian constitution”.

Here’s a look back key developments in Egypt in the last 24 hours as the country comes to terms with more upheaval just over two years after dictator Hosni Mubarak was overthrown:

Wednesday, 3 July

• 1909 GMT: Defence Minister and army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ousts Morsi, and declares the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court caretaker leader.
• Sisi, in a televised speech in which he is bounded by religious chiefs and opposition leader Mohammed ElBaradei, also announces a freezing of the Islamist-drafted constitution and early presidential elections, without setting a date.
• Police round up key Morsi aides and leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood.
• Tens of thousands of Cairo protesters erupt in celebration, while Morsi supporters attack security buildings in the north. Ten people killed in clashes, bringing to 57 the death toll since June 26.
• Morsi denounces “a coup” and in a prerecorded speech says: “I am Egypt’s elected president.” He asks Egyptians to defend his legitimacy.
• Morsi and his team put under house arrest, a Brotherhood official says.
• US President Barack Obama says he is “deeply concerned” and urges a quick return to an elected civilian government.

Thursday, 4 July

• A senior officer says the army is “preventively” holding Morsi. Gehad El-Haddad, son of a top Morsi aide, says Morsi has been detained at the defence ministry.
• State media report that warrants have been issued for the arrest of 300 Muslim Brotherhood officials.
• Chief justice Adly Mansour sworn in as interim president.
• Military police arrest Brotherhood supreme guide Mohammed Badie “for inciting the killing of protesters”.
• The Brotherhood denounces a “police state” and Islamist alliance the National Alliance to Support Legitimacy calls for “peaceful protests” nationwide on Friday.

- © AFP 2013

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