The people of Egypt are out in full force today to protest against President Mohamed Morsi, whom many believe has lost his legitimacy after becoming the country's first democratically elected president.
A sea of bodies formed in front of the presidential palace as the sun set.
A military source told AFP that "millions" of protesters took to the streets. "It is the biggest protest in Egypt's history."
Opposition leaders are calling for the resignation of the Muslim Brotherhood leader, the dissolution of Egypt's Islamist-dominated elected parliament, and the shelving of Islamist-drafted constitution to set up a new round of elections and a new constitution.
Morsi's supporters, celebrating the 61-year-old's first anniversary in office, have gathered to defend the president while accusing the opposition of engaging in a conspiracy to oust an elected ruler.
#alexandria on fire!! #revolution#june25#egypt#antimorsipic.twitter.com/UFQG0khZ9k
— Sally بنت ذهنى (@sallyzohney) June 30, 2013
Tahrir now #egyptpic.twitter.com/4Wnf5yxBSv
— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) June 30, 2013
The political turmoil has pitted Islamists against liberal and secular activists, old regime loyalists, and the nation’s increasingly disenchanted poor.
The police are absent, after previously saying they would "not provide protection for any party or political headquarters." Many are bracing for the worst in terms of violent clashes.
In the past week seven people have died— including a 21-year-old American— and about 606 have been injured.
#Egypt#June30 Largest protests in Egypt's 5000+year history. Will they be sustained? Will instigators transform them to violence and chaos?
— Iskandarani (@ssashehata) June 30, 2013
People on the ground in Egypt saying #June30 is the largest protest they've ever seen, even bigger than the first #Jan25 2011 revolution.
— Patrick deHahn (@patrickdehahn) June 30, 2013
Today is possibly Egypt's largest, most spread protests I saw, dozens of towns, seas of people. I'd be scared if I were Muslim Brotherhood.
— Amr Gharbeia (@gharbeia) June 30, 2013
Reporters in Egypt during Jan25 uprising saying today's protests — in Tahrir and at the presidential palace — are the biggest they've seen.
— Erin Cunningham (@erinmcunningham) June 30, 2013
Al Jazeera reports that "tanks and other military vehicles have started to appear on the streets of Cairo."
Last week Defense Minister General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the army had a duty to "prevent Egypt from slipping into a dark tunnel of civil unrest."
Here's a nugget from Abigail Hauslohner of The Washington Post:
"Helicopters passed over growing masses of protesters across the country, prompting cheers from the anti-Morsi activists, many of whom say they hope the military will intervene to help them oust the president."
Another picture of the 4 Apache helicopters buzzing #Tahrir. #Egyptpic.twitter.com/AySVFawa6j
— Ian Lee (@ianjameslee) June 30, 2013
SEE ALSO: Cairo Is A Dystopia [PHOTOS]