Egypt remains in political deadlock as military deadline looms

Nationwide protests continue for third consecutive day as President Morsi defies opposition calls to step down; at least 20 die in clashes between president's supporters, opponents on Tuesday and early hours of Wednesday

Protesters opposed to Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi surround an injured man, center, following clashes in the Kit Kat neighborhood of Giza, Egypt, where Tuesday, July 2, 2013 (Photo: AP) 

  Tensions reached a boiling point in Egypt on Tuesday night, with President Mohamed Morsi and his supporters still holding on tight to his "democratic legitimacy" while larger opposition forces continue to demand his ouster.

For the third day, millions of anti-Morsi demonstrators hit the streets across the nation to demand the removal of Morsi from power. A celebratory atmosphere was obvious most of the day in Cairo's Tahrir Square and at the Qubba and Ittihadeya presidential palaces.
Meanwhile, Islamist supporters of Morsi have also carried on their massive sit-in in the vicinity of Rabaa Al-Adawiya Mosque in Cairo's Nasr City district. Additional thousands have also been gathering at Cairo University in support of the elected president.