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Egypt unrest: Activists call for mass demonstrations Egypt unrest: Protesters gather for Tahrir Square rally
(about 1 hour later)
Egyptian activists have urged people to turn out for a million-strong march in Cairo's Tahrir Square to put pressure on the military to give up power. Egyptians are gathering in Cairo's Tahrir Square for a mass protest to put pressure on the military to speed up the transfer of power.
Around 100,000 people flocked to the square on Monday night after three days of deadly clashes that left at least 26 people dead and hundreds injured. Violence broke out again in streets close to the square and a BBC correspondent there describes the situation as volatile.
Three days of clashes between security forces and protesters have left at least 26 dead and hundreds wounded.
The unrest has thrown into doubt elections due to be held next week.The unrest has thrown into doubt elections due to be held next week.
Demonstrators are concerned that the military intends to hold on to power, whatever the outcome of the vote.Demonstrators are concerned that the military intends to hold on to power, whatever the outcome of the vote.
The military leadership, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf), was reportedly holding talks with political leaders - a day after the military-appointed civilian cabinet offered its resignation. The military leadership, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf), is holding talks with political leaders - a day after the military-appointed civilian cabinet offered its resignation.
The Muslim Brotherhood - whose Freedom and Equality party is widely seen as the most formidable contender in the elections - is taking part in the talks. The Muslim Brotherhood - whose Freedom and Equality party is widely seen as the most formidable contender in the elections - is also taking part in the talks.
It has refused to participate in Tuesday's protest - presumably, say correspondents, because it wants the election to go ahead to show how much support it has in the country.It has refused to participate in Tuesday's protest - presumably, say correspondents, because it wants the election to go ahead to show how much support it has in the country.
Without the Muslim Brotherhood's backing, the numbers attending Tuesday's rally could fall far short of the demonstrations that led to the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak as president earlier this year, observers say.Without the Muslim Brotherhood's backing, the numbers attending Tuesday's rally could fall far short of the demonstrations that led to the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak as president earlier this year, observers say.
Tear gas and bulletsTear gas and bullets
Protesters have begun streaming into Tahrir Square for the march later in the day, joining the hundreds that camped there overnight. Thousands of protesters have been streaming into Tahrir Square for the march later in the day, joining the hundreds that camped there overnight.
The square - in the heart of the Egyptian capital - and surrounding streets have been the scene of running battles in recent days. Some of the heaviest fighting was in streets leading to the interior ministry building. This crisis has been brewing for months. It revolves around one central question: Who will have the last word in the new Egypt - the people, via elected politicians, or the generals?
Since they overthrew the king in 1952, the armed forces have supplied all Egypt's presidents.
They are believed to control between 20% and 40% of the economy.
The generals pushed former President Mubarak to resign back in February when they saw that the vast majority of the Egyptian people were against him.
Since then, the highest authority in Egypt has been the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
At first, it was given the benefit of the doubt by veterans of Tahrir Square, who saw the soldiers as their protectors during what now seems to have been the first phase of the revolution.
But those same protesters have concluded that the military council's top priority is not the transition to democracy, but finding a way to keep its privileged position. It has also been trampling on human rights in a way that reminded too many Egyptians of President Mubarak's time.
Egypt is supposed to begin its first democratic election next Monday. Thanks to this crisis there is even talk of postponing it.
The BBC's Wyre Davies, in the square, and says the scene is noisy and chaotic.
There has been more violence, much of it again in the streets leading between the square and the interior ministry building.
The square - in the heart of the Egyptian capital - and surrounding streets have been the scene of running battles in recent days.
Protesters threw stones at the riot police and troops who used their batons and fired tear gas and birdshot.Protesters threw stones at the riot police and troops who used their batons and fired tear gas and birdshot.
Medics told the BBC they were seeing people injured by tear gas and rubber bullets at makeshift clinics set up around the square.Medics told the BBC they were seeing people injured by tear gas and rubber bullets at makeshift clinics set up around the square.
There has been violence in other parts of Egypt too. Two people died in the port city of Ismailia on the Suez Canal after security forces clashed with some 4,000 demonstrators, witnesses said.There has been violence in other parts of Egypt too. Two people died in the port city of Ismailia on the Suez Canal after security forces clashed with some 4,000 demonstrators, witnesses said.
Egypt's military rulers were thrown into further disarray on Monday when its civilian cabinet led by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf tendered its resignation. Egypt's military rulers were thrown into further disarray on Monday when the civilian cabinet led by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf tendered its resignation.
A military source said the resignation has not yet been accepted. A military source said the resignation had not yet been accepted.
Many people had already written the cabinet off as a spent force, as the ruling military council has assumed more and more direct control of the running of the country, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says. Many people had already written the cabinet off as a spent force, as the ruling military council had assumed more and more direct control of the running of the country, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says.
However, it poses a dilemma for the military, he adds. Any future cabinet is bound to demand more power for the civilian government. Or the military will be forced to take more direct control, making the generals personally responsible for all that is now going wrong in Egypt.However, it poses a dilemma for the military, he adds. Any future cabinet is bound to demand more power for the civilian government. Or the military will be forced to take more direct control, making the generals personally responsible for all that is now going wrong in Egypt.
In a statement carried by the official Mena news agency, the council expressed its "deep regret for the victims in these painful incidents" and called for "the greatest degree of self-restraint".In a statement carried by the official Mena news agency, the council expressed its "deep regret for the victims in these painful incidents" and called for "the greatest degree of self-restraint".
It said it had asked the justice ministry to form a committee to investigate the violence of the last few days.It said it had asked the justice ministry to form a committee to investigate the violence of the last few days.
Amnesty reportAmnesty report
The clashes began on Saturday following demonstrations against proposed constitutional changes unveiled by the interim government.The clashes began on Saturday following demonstrations against proposed constitutional changes unveiled by the interim government.
Protesters are angry over a draft document setting out principles for a new constitution, under which the military and its budget could be exempted from civilian oversight.Protesters are angry over a draft document setting out principles for a new constitution, under which the military and its budget could be exempted from civilian oversight.
They have been chanting "the people want the removal of the marshal" - a reference to Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi, who heads the military council and his a long-time associate of Hosni Mubarak.They have been chanting "the people want the removal of the marshal" - a reference to Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi, who heads the military council and his a long-time associate of Hosni Mubarak.
He has the task of overseeing the country's transition to democracy after three decades of autocratic rule under Mr Mubarak.He has the task of overseeing the country's transition to democracy after three decades of autocratic rule under Mr Mubarak.
A proposal by the military to delay the presidential election until late 2012 or early 2013 has further angered the opposition.A proposal by the military to delay the presidential election until late 2012 or early 2013 has further angered the opposition.
Protesters want the presidential vote to take place after parliamentary elections, which begin on 28 November and will be staggered over the next three months.Protesters want the presidential vote to take place after parliamentary elections, which begin on 28 November and will be staggered over the next three months.
In a report published on Tuesday, Amnesty International said Egypt's military rulers had "completely failed to live up their promises to Egyptians to improve human rights".In a report published on Tuesday, Amnesty International said Egypt's military rulers had "completely failed to live up their promises to Egyptians to improve human rights".
Amnesty said the military council had carried on many of the abusive tactics of the Hosni Mubarak era, including torture of suspects, targeting critics and banning critical media.Amnesty said the military council had carried on many of the abusive tactics of the Hosni Mubarak era, including torture of suspects, targeting critics and banning critical media.
"The euphoria of the uprising has been replaced by fears that one repressive rule has simply been replaced with another," Amnesty said."The euphoria of the uprising has been replaced by fears that one repressive rule has simply been replaced with another," Amnesty said.
Are you in Egypt? Are you in Tahrir Square? What do you think of the Egyptian cabinet's resignation offer? Send us your comments and experiences. If you are happy for a BBC journalist to contact you, please include a phone numberAre you in Egypt? Are you in Tahrir Square? What do you think of the Egyptian cabinet's resignation offer? Send us your comments and experiences. If you are happy for a BBC journalist to contact you, please include a phone number
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