Egypt braces for protests, redeploys army

PanARMENIAN.Net - Security officials say the military has brought in reinforcements of troops and armor to bases near Egyptian cities ahead of planned June 30 protests to force the Islamist president out, The Associated Press reported.

The officials say the deployments are restricted to the outskirts of major cities and inside existing military facilities. In Cairo, the focus of the planned protests, the extra troops went to major bases to the east and west.

The protests mark President Mohammed Mursi's first year in office.

Army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has given Mursi and the opposition a week to reach an understanding to prevent bloodshed. There has been no sign of compromise by either side. Mursi addresses the nation later on Wednesday.

The officials spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to speak to the media.