CAIRO: At least 16 people were killed on Wednesday and 200 wounded when gunmen opened fire on supporters of President Mohamed Morsi who were rallying outside Cairo University, state television quoted a Health Ministry spokesman as saying.

Security sources said pro-Morsi demonstrators clashed with security forces. They put the death toll at 18.

Witnesses said they heard shotgun and rifle fire.

“Police attacked the protesters in their uniforms, using state-issued machine guns and ammunition,” said Gehad El-Haddad, spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood.

Egypt military chiefs hold crisis talks

Senior military commanders were in emergency talks after Morsi rejected their ultimatum to resolve the current crisis, a source close to the military told AFP.

The meeting comes ahead of a 4:30 pm deadline for the leader to “meet the demands of the people” — who took to the streets in their millions on Sunday demanding he go — or face army intervention.