2011년 ‘중동의 봄' 시민혁명으로 권력을 잡고, 민주주의 선거를 통해 선출된 이집트의 첫 대통령이 3일(현지시각) 군부에 의해 1년만에 쫓겨났다.

압델 파타 엘 시시 이집트 국방장관은 “현행 헌법의 효력을 정지시키고 새로운 내각을 구성할 예정”이라고 밝혔다. 대통령 선거와 총선을 다시 치르고 국가 통합위원회를 구성한다는 로드맵도 발표했다. 또 아들리 알 만수르 헌법재판소 소장을 대통령 선거가 새로 치러질 때까지 임시 대통령으로 임명했다고 말했다.

이집트 전역의 도시에서는 군부의 발표 이후 수백만명의 반정부 시위대들의 환호가 들렸다. 카이로 타흐리르 광장에서는 남여가 어울러져 “신은 위대하다", ”이집트여 영원하라" 등의 구호를 외쳤다.

타히르리 광장에서 25살의 시위대 무하마드 나흐는 ”제가 행복한 지 묻지 마시고 그냥 주변 사람들을 둘러보세요. 젊든 나이들었던 상관없이 그들 모두 행복합니다.“ 고 말하며, ”처음으로 사람들은 정말로 그들의 자유를 얻었습니다.“고 전했다.

하지만 무슬림형제단 등 무르시 지지파의 세력도 만만치 않아, 군부는 광장에 군대를 배치했다.



<관련 영어 기사>

Egyptian military ousts President Morsi

Egypt‘s first democratically elected president was ousted Wednesday by the military after barely a year in office, felled by the same kind of popular revolt that first brought him to power in the Arab Spring.

The armed forces announced it would install a temporary civilian government to replace Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, who denounced the action as a “full coup” by the generals. They also suspended the Islamist-drafted constitution and called for new elections.

Millions of anti-Morsi protesters in cities around the country erupted in delirious scenes of joy after the televised announcement by the army chief. Fireworks burst over crowds in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, where men and women danced, shouting, “God is great” and “Long live Egypt.”

“Don‘t ask me if I am happy, just look around you at all those people, young and old, they are all happy,” said 25-year-old protester Mohammed Nageh, shouting to heard at Tahrir.

“For the first time, people have really won their liberty.”

Fearing a violent reaction by Morsi’s Islamist supporters, the military sent troops and armored vehicles into streets of Cairo and elsewhere, surrounding Islamist rallies. The head of the political wing of the political wing of Morsi‘s Muslim Brotherhood was arrested.

Clashes quickly erupted in several provincial cities when Islamists opened fire on police, with at least nine killed in the battles, security officials said.

The army’s move is the second time in Egypt‘s 2 { years of turmoil that it has forced out the country’s leader. In the first, it pushed out autocrat Hosni Mubarak after the massive uprising against its rule.

Its new move came after a stunning four-day anti-Morsi revolt that brought protests even larger than those of 2011, fueled by public anger that Morsi was giving too much power to his Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists and had failed to tackle the country‘s mounting economic woes.

This time, however, its removal of an elected figure could be more explosive. Beyond fears over violence, even some protesters are concerned whether an army-installed administration can lead to real democracy. (AP)