Egypt’s first democratically elected President, Mohammed Morsi, has been removed from power in a military coup. Morsi had been President for less than a year, however the people were becoming increasingly unhappy with Morsi, leading to mass protests in Cairo. The army had given President Morsi an ultimatum to enter into a greater dialogue, however he refused, so on Wednesday the army seized power. Egypt’s top judge is now acting as leader of the nation.

Tensions had been increasing in Egypt after Morsi granted himself sweeping powers late last year. Religious leaders from the Muslim as well as the Coptic Christian communities have backed the coup with Ahmed al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University, and Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Church saying that the military was taking up it’s “patriotic duty to the Egyptian masses” by removing President Morsi from power.

Mohammed Morsi was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Brotherhood have been linked to al-Qaeda, and with Morsi in power the Christian minority had seen a significant increase in persecution.

Today authorities have moved to arrest prominent members of the Muslim Brotherhood. Despite the jubilant scenes on the streets of Cairo, there are concerns that the country could see further violence with Muslim Brotherhood supporters vowing to die to defend Morsi’s “legitimate” right to power.

Read More: The Telegraph