Egypt's Morsi ousted, top judge sworn in as interim president

An army-backed top jurist was today sworn in as Egypt's interim head of state, a day after the powerful military deposed and detained the Arab nation's first democratically elected President Mohammed Morsi amidst high drama.

As an uncertain new political order began to take shape in Egypt following the ouster of Muslim Brotherhood leader Morsi, Justice Adly Mahmoud Mansour - head of High Constitutional Court - took the presidential oath of office.

67-year-old Mansour saluted the army, the judiciary and the police in a brief acceptance speech to rapturous applause.

He praised the protesters whose mass demonstrations spurred the military action, calling them a unifying force.

In his remarks, Justice Mansour also paid tribute to the youth of the revolution and all revolutionary forces for taking part in the 'glorious day of 30 June.'

'I swear by Almighty God that I will uphold the republican system, respect the constitution and the law, look after the interests of the people, protect the independence of the nation and the safety of its land,' Mansour said while taking oath telecast live on state TV.

Mansour's appointment came after the military last night removed Morsi from power, a little more than a year after the 61-year-old Islamist leader assumed office, following massive protests against his style of functioning.

In the run-up to the showdown, the powerful army generals and Morsi both pledged to sacrifice their lives to defend the country.

On Tuesday, the army had given a 48-hour ultimatum to Morsi to resolve the political crisis in the wake of massive protests against him that began on the June 30 anniversary of his first year in office.

The military today confirmed that it is holding Morsi.

Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad El-Haddad said the deposed president was under 'house arrest' at the presidential Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo. He said some members of Morsi's inner circle have also put under house arrest.