Egypt’s President Dismisses Calls for Early Vote

Egypt’s embattled president is dismissing opposition calls for early presidential elections in a show of confidence ahead of his first anniversary in office.

On June 30, Mohammed Morsi will mark one year in power as Egypt’s first freely elected president following the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

In remarks to the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper on Friday, Morsi said the calls for an early vote are both “absurd and illegal.”

He warned against violence during upcoming demonstrations that the opposition is planning for the anniversary to demand his ouster.

During Morsi’s year in power, Egypt has witnessed deadly bouts of violence and mass street protests.

Opponents claim the president has caused deep polarization in Egypt. Morsi accuses the opposition of instigating violence.

ABC news