Egypt's transitional struggles

These parties are unlikely to stand idle while the military refuses to hand over power to a civilian parliament and president.

While they lack the military's weapons, they have the ability to mobilise large numbers of people.

If an eventual confrontation takes place, as seems increasingly likely, the military will have to decide the extent of the defence of its interests.

That could mean caving into the demands of protestors and handing over power or it may come to the point when they turn on their own people.

A powerful Egyptian military dominated by radical Islamists would be cause for enormous strategic concern.

Yet a situation such as that underway in Syria is unthinkable.

As the Muslim Brotherhood warned, Egypt faces difficult and dangerous times.

The implications are global.