Summary Egypt's army chief has warned military is ready to intervene to stop internal conflict.
CAIRO (AP) - Egypt s army chief has warned that the military is ready to intervene to stop the nation from entering a "dark tunnel" of internal conflict.
Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, also the defense minister, spoke Sunday, a week ahead of mass protests planned by opponents of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
Egyptians fear the demonstrations calling for Morsi s ouster will descend into violence after some of the president s hard-line supporters vowed to "smash" them.
Others declared protesters were infidels who deserve to be killed.
El-Sissi s comments make clear that the military is willing to intervene on the side of the protesters if attacked by the president s Islamist backers.
He urged all parties to use the week leading up to the June 30 protests to reach a "genuine" understanding to defuse the crisis.
