The events which culminated in the overthrow and arrest of Egypt’s Islamist President Muhammad Mursi by the country’s armed forces on 3 July can be traced back to 24 June, when the army Chief of Staff and Defense Minister, Gen Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, warned that the army might have to intervene if the government and its opponents failed to reconcile their differences before the 30 June demonstrations called by the anti-Mursi “tamarud” (rebellion) movement to mark the first anniversary of the Islamist president’s inauguration. When no such reconciliation eventuated, and massive protests took place, the army intervened more forcefully on 1 July by setting a 48-hour deadline for the parties to resolve their disputes and threatening to impose its own “roadmap” for Egypt. Mr Mursi, who appeared to have been taken by surprise by the army’s move, remained adamant that he represented legitimacy as the country’s first democratically elected leader. On 3 July the army made good on its threat (and moved back into the heart of Egyptian political life) by arresting Mr Mursi and - reportedly - a number of senior officials of his Freedom and Justice Party, the political manifestation of the Muslim Brotherhood.