Egypt: Morsi's two spokesmen quit

Supporters of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi hold sticks and wear protective gear during their training outside of the Rabia el-Adawiya mosque near the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, July 2, 2013. Egypt was on edge Tuesday following a 'last-chance' ultimatum the military issued to Mohammed Morsi, giving the president and the opposition 48 hours to resolve the crisis in the country or have the army step in with its own plan. Protesters seeking the ouster of the Islamist president remained camped out at Cairo's Tahrir Square, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising, gearing up for a third day of anti-Morsi rallies. Across town, Morsi's Islamist backers have hunkered down at their own rally site, vowing to resist what they depict as a threat of a coup against a legitimately elected president. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press

July 02, 2013 at 10:00 AM

CAIRO — A foreign ministry official says two spokesmen for President Mohammed Morsi have quit in the latest defections from his embattled administration as protesters and the military challenge his authority.

The official says career diplomats Omar Amer and Ihab Fahmy have stepped down after nearly five months speaking on behalf of Morsi.

The official spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The move compounds the woes for Morsi as he faces massive protests calling for his ouster.

On Monday, six Cabinet ministers quit and the military gave the president a 48-hour ultimatum to work out his differences with the opposition or it will intervene and oversee the implementation of its own political road map. The ultimatum expires Wednesday.

Egypt: Morsi's two spokesmen quit

CAIRO — The organizers of anti-government protests that brought millions of Egyptians into the streets this weekend gave Islamist President Mohammed Morsi until Tuesday afternoon to step down or else it will hike up its campaign, as protesters...