Egypt's military issues warning

CAIRO - Wading into an increasingly volatile fray, Egypt's military on Sunday gave the nation's Islamist rulers and their opponents a week to reach an understanding before planned June 30 opposition protests aimed at forcing out the president, in a tough warning that it will intervene to stop the nation from entering a "dark tunnel."

The military also gave a thinly veiled warning to President Mohammed Morsi's hard-line backers that it would step in if the mostly secular and liberal protesters, who have vowed to be peaceful, are attacked.

In a bid to project a business-as-usual image, Morsi's office said in a statement late Sunday that the president met with the army's chief, Defense Minister Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. There was no mention of Sissi's warning.

Seeking to assert Morsi's seniority over Sissi - the president is supreme commander of the army - the brief statement, alluding to next Sunday, said he ordered quick completion of plans to protect the state's vital installations.

The opposition argues Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood have squandered their legitimacy with heavy-handed misrule.

His supporters say the opposition has shunned offers of dialogue and are turning to force to oust him because they have been unable to compete at the ballot box.