Embattled President Mohamed Morsi of Egypt has no alternative than to go today, the country’s flagship state newspaper Al-Ahram has said. Morsi, according to the paper, would either step down or be removed from office when a deadline set by the army for resolving the country’s political crisis expires this evening. Morsi was defiant in a broadcast late yesterday and an aide has said he prefers to die standing for democracy than to abdicate his seat.

Writing on the post-Morsi era, Al-Ahram said an army road map for the future would set up a three-member presidential council to be chaired by the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court.

“Al-Ahram learnt that with the end of the 48-hour period set by the armed forces ... it is expected in the hours that follow it, one of two things: either Mursi announces his resignation himself, or the declaration of his removal through the road map for the future set out by the armed forces,” the paper said.

It said the road map would set up a neutral transitional government to be headed by a military leader. The transitional period, according to the paper, would last nine to 12 months in which a new constitution would be drafted to set out a path to presidential elections.

The 61 years old Morsi assumed office on June 2012 last year on the back of the Muslim Brotherhood following elections held in the wake of the ouster of veteran president Hosni Mubarak. He however soon lost the people’s favour due to his autocratic rule and failure to quickly deliver the expected dividends of democracy.

•Photo shows Morsi.