Egyptian leaders are continuing to struggle for order after almost a week of violence that has left many hundreds dead.
The army chief has called for the inclusion of Islamists in the government but warns the military will use force if necessary.
Meanwhile, international leaders say they will review ties with Egypt.
Biwa Kwan reports.
The Egyptian military and the government it installed blame the Muslim Brotherhood of deposed president Mohammed Morsi for the violence.
They have labelled Brotherhood supporters as terrorists, and have threatened to outlaw it altogether.
In his first public comments since last week's security crackdown, Egypt's army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned the army will not tolerate further violence.
(through translation) "Take notice of these words. We will not stand behind traitors and those who cause menace, and schemers, no, we won't have any of this, and I assure you of this, all of you."
General al-Sissi led the coup early this month that toppled Mohammed Morsi after four days of mass rallies by millions of Egyptians who demanded the president step down.
He says the military is not seeking power but is instead protecting the will of the people.
(through translation)"The will of the Egyptian people is free, their will is free, they can choose whoever they want to rule them, and we are the guardians of this will. The army and the police right now are the guardians of the will of the people with regard to choosing who their leaders will be.
Some Egyptians have come out in support of General al-Sisi's statements.
This resident says he is worried about where the country is headed.
(through translation)"What he said is correct of course and this is the best thing that can happen now, otherwise the country will be destroyed. He is facing people who are determined to destroy and sabotage - is there any other alternative? There is no alternative."
But not everyone agrees.
Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood have vowed to continue to holding protests, despite dusk-to-dawn curfews being enforced in much of the country.
This local says it's unfair for the interim government and the army to brand the protests as terrorism.
"I don't think they're a terrorist group. But I think some of the members acted in a way not befitting our society. I don't think that brands them all as terrorists. They're painting us with the same brush that a lot of other nations have painted Egypt. And I don't think it's fair."
The Muslim Brotherhood has derided General Sisi's comments and disputed claims that its members used violence in their demonstrations.
Muslim Brotherhood spokesperson Mona Al-Qazzaz says Egypt's democratic institutions have been overtaken by tanks and bullets fired by security forces.
"This is a political debate about a political performance. The only exclusion we are seeing is the exclusion of the majority of the Egyptians. The majority of the Egyptians have chosen a certain democratic institutions and some people by-passed all of that and usurped the power using the power of the tanks and the bullets."
European Union members, shocked by the actions of the Egyptian security forces in dealing with protesters, are reviewing relations with Egypt.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says the EU might decide to reduce some of its assistance programs, worth billions of dollars a year.
(through translation) "The foreign ministers will probably make a decision towards the middle of the week. And so we're currently re-examining our relations with Egypt and then, depending on the situation, we'll see what needs to be decided. I don't want to pre-empt the decision which will be taken."
In protest over the killing of protesters, the United States has already cancelled joint military exercises with Egypt, and delayed the delivery of four F-16 fighter jets
Republican Senator John McCain says the US should cut all its military aid to Egypt.
"For us to sit by and watch this happen is a violation of everything that we stood for. And when we threaten something, as we did that we would cut off aid, the administration did, and then not do it, then you lose your credibility and your influence."
In response, Egypt's interim government says it's reviewing strategic relationships with the US and other Western governments critical of its crackdown.
And the US is being urged by some Arab allies in the region to take a less aggressive stance towards the Egyptian government, in the interest of thwarting what they see as a larger Islamist threat.
Former Israeli ambassador to Egypt, Yitzchak Levanon, also says the US government's response has escalated the situation.
"I think that the speeches and statements coming from the United States which are not endorsing the military-backed government in Egypt, is embarrassing a lot of people in the Middle East, including the Egyptians."
