The military has drawn up a road map for suspending parliament, naming civilian council.

CAIRO — President Mohammed Morsi refused to step down Wednesday and called on the military not to "take sides" even as the army chief of staff met with opposition figures and religious leaders to discuss its "road map" for dramatic political reform.'
The military had called on Morsi 48 hours ago to yield to the mass protests or step aside, but the Associated Press reported that he had refused to step aside as the final minutes of the deadline ticked down Wednesday.
State media reported that the "road map" would include a new interim leadership, installed by the military, and a suspension of the Islamist-backed constitution and the Islamist-dominated parliament.
The BBC reported that the army asked all but essential staff to leave the state TV building ahead of the deadline, which expired around 4:30 p.m. local time (10:30 a.m. ET.).
At least 39 people have died since the protests began on Sunday. Many of the latest deaths occurred after gunfire erupted outside Cairo University in Giza, where pro-Morsi demonstrators gathered to show support for the president, who comes from the 85-year-old Muslim Brotherhood, the Associated Press reported.
The meeting between opposition groups and army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was announced by opposition spokesman Khaled Dwoud in a live telephone interview with state television.
It included Mohamed ElBaradei, Egypt's leading democracy advocate, who represents the opposition National Salvation Front coalition and the youth groups leading anti-Morsi protesters. Also in attendance to discuss the proposed political "road map" were Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb, grand imam of Al-Azhar mosque, and Pope Tawadros II, patriarch of Egypt's Coptic Christian minority.
Mohamed Abou El Ghar, president of the Egyptian Social Democratic party, tells USA TODAY that the opposition is demanding that Morsi must go, and that there should be a "civilian, temporary, honorary president, preferably from the higher constitutional court and a civilian prime minister with a small cabinet to run the country in the coming period."
"The military and the police should only guard the borders and the security inside the country," he said. "So, it should be clear in the minds of the West that this is not a coup. This is not a military coup."
Moving forward, he added, the opposition does not want to isolate the Muslim Brotherhood. "We want the Muslim Brothers to share in the future elections and the future parliament," he said.
As the deadline loomed, Morsi showed little interest in compromise, however, going on national TV Tuesday night to reject calls for his ouster.
A spokesman for Morsi, Ayman Ali, told Reuters that that president believes it is better "to die standing like a tree" than turn back history.
"It is better for a president, who would otherwise be returning Egypt to the days of dictatorship, from which God and the will of the people has saved us, to die standing like a tree," Ali tells the news agency."Rather than be condemned by history and future generations for throwing away the hopes of Egyptians for establishing a democratic life."
In an emotional 46-minute speech, Morsi warned the military against removing him, saying such action will "backfire on its perpetrators."
Morsi, who took office almost exactly one year ago, pledged to protect his "constitutional legitimacy" with his life.
He accused loyalists of his ousted autocratic predecessor Hosni Mubarak of exploiting the wave of protests to topple his regime and thwart democracy.
"There is no substitute for legitimacy," said Morsi, who at times angrily raised his voice, thrust his fist in the air and pounded the podium. He warned that electoral and constitutional legitimacy "is the only guarantee against violence."
Opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi shout slogans during a protest in Tahrir Square on July 3 in Cairo.
Opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi shout slogans during a protest in Tahrir Square on July 3 in Cairo.  Amr Nabil, AP
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  • Opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi shout slogans during a protest in Tahrir Square on July 3 in Cairo.
  • A protester was injured during clashes with Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters of President Mohamed Morsi outside Cairo University.
  • Anti-government demonstrators pray in Tahrir Square.
  • Laser lights on the wall of a government building spell out a message for President Morsi at Tahrir Square on July 2.
  • Thousands of protesters demonstrate at Tahrir Square .
  • A protester runs past a fire during clashes between anti-government demonstrators and supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in Giza.
  • Egyptian protesters calling for the ouster Morsi as they watch his speech on an outdoor screen near the presidential palace in Cairo. Morsi told Egyptians that he had been freely elected little more than a year ago and that he intended to continue to carry out his duties despite mass protests demanding his resignation.
  • Protesters demonstrate at Tahrir Square.
  • Opposition protesters shout slogans against Morsi near the presidential palace.
  • Opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi shout slogans and wave national flags during a rally on July 2 in Tahrir Square in Cairo. Morsi early on July 2 rejected a 48-hour ultimatum by the army, throwing Egypt further into political turmoil.
  • An military helicopter flies over an anti-Morsi demonstrator at Tahrir Square.
  • Supporters of President Morsi stage a rally near Cairo University Square in Giza.
  • Supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi train with sticks and makeshift shields outside the Rabia el-Adawiya Mosque near the presidential palace in Cairo.
  • Demonstrators backing President Mohamed Morsi rally near Cairo University in Giza.
  • An opponent of Morsi sleeps in a tent near the presidential palace in Cairo.
  • A protester waves a national flag in Tahrir Square on July 1.
  • Thousands of demonstrators gather outside the presidential palace.
  • Supporters of Morsi attend a rally in Nasser City.
  • Protesters shout slogans against Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood near the presidential palace.
  • Protesters supporting Morsi wave national flags during a rally in Nasser City.
  • Opposition protesters celebrate at Tahrir Square in Cairo on July 1 after the Egyptian military gave Morsi 48 hours to meet the demands of the demonstrators or it would take action against him.
  • Egyptians react to a television broadcast from the military at a coffee shop near Tahrir Square.
  • Opponents of Morsi carry a large Egyptian national flag outside the presidential palace after the military issued an ultimatum.
  • Women celebrate in Cairo.
  • A protester shouts slogans against Morsi.
  • Demonstrators shout slogans and wave national flags during a protest at Tahrir Square.
  • Protesters ransack and burn the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Cairo. Demonstrators stormed the headquarters of President Mohammed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood group as thousands of protesters prepared for a second day of mass rallies aimed at forcing the Islamist leader from power.
  • Protesters ransack the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters.
  • Opponents of Morsi protest outside the presidential palace in Cairo.
  • Supporters of Morsi demonstrate outside the Rabia el-Adawiya Mosque on June 30 in Cairo.
  • Anti-government demonstrators burn the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Cairo.
  • A demonstrator protests outside the presidential palace.
  • Thousands of demonstrators gather outside the presidential palace.
  • Supporters of Morsi hold a rally in Nasser City.
  • Opponents of Morsi pray during a protest at Tahrir Square.
  • A protester chants slogans against Morsi during a rally at Tahrir Square.
  • Opponents of the president protest.
  • An opponent of Morsi chants slogans as he holds pot covers with Arabic that reads, "Leave."
  • Thousands of opponents of Morsi gather for a protest calling for his ouster at Tahrir Square.
  • Supporters of Morsi rally in Nasser City.
  • Egyptians shout slogans as they march through the streets of Cairo on their way to join thousands protesting against Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood at Tahrir Square.
  • Supporters of Morsi gather in Nasser City.
  • Opponents of Morsi rally outside the presidential palace in Cairo.
  • An Egyptian protester rallies in Tahrir Square.
  • Supporters of Morsi demonstrate outside of the Rabia el-Adawiya Mosque on July 29 in Cairo. Thousands of supporters and opponents of Egypt's Islamist president are holding rival demonstrations as both sides prepare for massive protests on July 30.
  • A supporter of Morsi shouts slogans against the anti-government demonstrators.
  • Supporters of Morsi shout anti-opposition slogans at a public square outside the Rabia el-Adawiya Mosque in Cairo, not far from the presidential palace, during a rally in Cairo on June 29. Thousands of supporters and opponents of Egypt's embattled Islamist president are holding rival sit-ins on the eve of what are expected to be massive opposition-led protests aimed at forcing Mohammed Morsi's ouster. The demonstrations early Saturday follow days of deadly clashes in a string of cities across the country that left at least seven people dead, including an American, and hundreds injured.
  • A woman chants anti-government slogans as she protests near the presidential palace in Cairo.
  • A man takes a photo under an anti-government banner depicting Morsi in Cairo. The words on the banner read, "The end of the reign of terror."
  • A protester waves a national flag over Tahrir Square on June 28 in Cairo.
  • An anti-government protester demonstrates outside the Defense Ministry in Cairo.
  • Demonstrators wave their hands and hold national flags during a rally against the rule of Morsi at Tahrir Square.
  • Women who support Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood political party pray during a demonstration near the Rabaa El-Adaweya Mosque in Cairo.
  • Supporters of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood demonstrate at the Rabaa El-Adaweya Mosque on June 28 in Cairo. Supporters and opponents of Egypt's president took to the streets for rival protests a year after his election.
  • An opponent of Morsi protests outside the Defense Ministry in Cairo.
  • A supporter of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood waves the national flag.
  • An opponent of Morsi protests outside the Defense Ministry.
  • Opponents of Morsi chant slogans as the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters burns in Alexandria, Egypt.
  • A man was wounded in clashes between supporters and opponents of Morsi in Alexandria.
  • An Egyptian government supporter is wheeled into an ambulance after being wounded during clashes between supporters and opponents of Morsi in the coastal city of Alexandria.
  • A supporter of Morsi attends a rally in Cairo.
  • Muslim Brotherhood supporters shout slogans at the Rabaa El-Adaweya mosque.
Morsi said he is prepared to sacrifice his blood for the sake of the homeland, and he accused former regime loyalists of battling democracy.
Although Morsi has only been in office a year, his opponents have grown increasingly angry over a deteriorating economic and political situation, as well as what they see as attempts by the Brotherhood to monopolize power.
As the crisis continued, there has been no official protection for protesters, and police even failed to intervene when Cairo's Muslim Brotherhood headquarters was attacked then ransacked this week.
Some estimates put the total number of people killed in clashes nationwide over the past several days at more than 40.
Violence also permeates Tahrir Square, where 91 women have been sexually assaulted and in some cases raped over the past four days, Human Rights Watch said. One woman needed surgery after she was raped with a "sharp object," volunteers working to prevent sexual assault told the human rights group. Others were beaten with sticks, metal chains and chairs. In some cases, they were assaulted for up to 45 minutes.
Anti-Morsi protesters are largely hoping the military will interfere to resolve the current crisis — a shift from when many sought to push the establishment aside and make way for a democratic state and civilian rule after generals governed the country for more than 16 months in the nation's post-revolution period.
But in locations across Cairo on Tuesday night, Morsi supporters demanded that Morsi remain in his post as the county is no closer to mending deep political divisions.
Douglas Stanglin reported from McLean, Va.