The comments by army chief Gen Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi came a week ahead of planned mass protests by opponents of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

 

He said the army was obliged to stop Egypt plunging² into a "dark tunnel".

 

The remarks are seen as one of the strongest interventions³ since the army handed over power to President Morsi last year.

 

 

At a meeting with soldiers on Sunday, Gen Sisi, who is also the country's defence minister, said the army would "not remain silent as the country slides into uncontrollable conflict".

 

"There is a state of division in the society, and the continuation of it is a danger to the Egyptian state.

 

"There must be consensus," he stressed.

 

Gen Sisi also met the president on Sunday for what an army spokesman described as a "routine" consultation⁵, according to Reuters news agency.

 

Gen Sisi's comments come as Egypt's secular⁶ groups plan mass rallies ahead of the 30 June anniversary of President Morsi coming to power.

 

The groups say they have gathered 13 million signatures on a petition calling for the Islamist leader to step down. 

 

On Friday, thousands of Mr Morsi's supporters marched across the country - in a show of support for the president. 

 

The crowds chanted their allegiance, pre-empting the opposition⁷ demonstrations⁸. 

 

Mr Morsi's first year in office has been marred⁹ by constant political unrest and a sinking economy.

 

Many analysts¹⁰ say the instability and a continuing threat of violence have frightened away foreign investors¹¹ and tourists.

 

There is increasing unemployment, particularly among the young, fuel shortages and a drain on reserves of foreign currency.

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