CAIRO — A Defense Ministry official says army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi is meeting with his top commanders, hours before the military's deadline to the president and opposition to resolve the nation's political crisis is set to expire.

The official, who gave no further details, spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

Embattled President Mohammed Morsi vowed late Tuesday to stay in office and called on the military to withdraw its ultimatum, which expires later Wednesday. The military says if no agreement is reached, it will intervene to implement a political road map of its own to shepherd Egypt out of its crisis.

Millions have been taking to the streets since Sunday to call on Morsi to step down.