Egypt Brotherhood leader calls for 'martyrdom'

Protesters hold posters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi as Muslim Brotherhood members and Morsi's supporters gather outside in Cairo's eastern Nasr City district on July 2, 2013. A top Muslim Brotherhood leader urged Egyptians to stand ready to sacrifice their lives to prevent a coup. (AFP)

CAIRO (AFP) – A top Muslim Brotherhood leader urged Egyptians to stand ready to sacrifice their lives to prevent a coup, after the army gave Islamist President Mohamed Morsi and his opponents until Wednesday to resolve their differences or face intervention.

"Seeking martyrdom to prevent this coup is what we can offer to the previous martyrs of the revolution," Mohamed al-Beltagui said in a statement on Tuesday.

He was referring to the more than 800 people killed during the 2011 uprising that ousted veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak.