Egypt protestors warned of army coup

Egypt’s foreign minister has warned of a military coup if protesters continue mass demonstrations.

He said they must follow a government-run programme for enacting gradual reform.

The comments by Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit were the second veiled threat this week from the regime of a direct military takeover if protests persist.

The comments suggest there could be a new confrontation as protests have gained new momentum, growing in size and branching out into labour unrest erupting around the country

Speaking to the Arab news network Al-Arabiya, Aboul Gheit warns that if “adventurers” take over the process of reform the military “will be compelled to defend the constitution and national security ... and we’ll find ourselves in a very grave situation.”