REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CAIRO - The organizers of anti-government protests that brought millions of Egyptians into the streets this weekend gave Islamist President Mohammad Mursi until Tuesday afternoon to step down or else it will hike up its campaign, as protesters overran and ransacked the headquarters of Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood.

In a sign of Mursi's growing isolation, five Cabinet ministers met Monday to consider resigning their posts and joining the protest movement, the state news agency said. The meeting gathered the communications, legal affairs, environment, tourism and water utilities ministers, MENA reported.

The ultimatum issued Monday by Tamarod, the protest organizers, increases pressure on Mursi a day after the opposition's massive show of force on the streets, with millions packing Cairo's Tahrir Square, the streets outside the presidential palace and main squares in cities around the country on the anniversary of Mursi's inauguration.

The main rallies in Cairo were largely peaceful, but deadly violence broke out in several parts of the country, often when marchers came under gunfire. At least 16 people were killed and more than 780 injured, Health Ministry spokesman Yehya Moussa told state television.

Tamarod, Arabic for "Rebel," issued a statement giving Mursi until 5 pm (1500 GMT) on Tuesday to step down and pave the way for early presidential elections or else it would bring the crowds back out, march on more palaces and launch "complete civil disobedience." Protesters were already gearing up for new rallies Monday.

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