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Egypt military 'agrees new government' Egypt military pledges to speed up power transfer
(40 minutes later)
Egypt's military rulers have agreed to form a "national salvation government" and speed up the process towards presidential elections, reports say. Egypt's military rulers have agreed to speed up presidential elections, a key demand of protesters packing Cairo's Tahrir Square.
The move follows days of often violent protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square. Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, said on national TV they would happen by July 2012.
Delegates at a crisis meeting between political groups and the military said parliamentary elections next week would go ahead as scheduled. He said he had accepted the resignation of the cabinet and that parliamentary elections next week would go ahead.
They said presidential elections would take place before the end of June next year - a key demand of protesters. It follows days of protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square over the pace of reform.
Next week's elections are due to set in train a process of transition to democracy following the toppling of President Hosni Mubarak in February. Tens of thousands of people continued to pack Tahrir Square on Tuesday evening.
Witnesses said many appeared to reject the military's latest concessions, chanting: "We are not leaving, he (Tantawi) leaves."
Next week's parliamentary elections are due to set in train a process of transition to democracy following the toppling of President Hosni Mubarak in February.
But many Egyptians fear the military intends to hold on to power, whatever the outcome of the polls.But many Egyptians fear the military intends to hold on to power, whatever the outcome of the polls.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo says the readiness to bring forward presidential elections appears to be a major concession from the military. Under the military's original timetable, presidential elections might not have happened until 2013.
Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf), is expected to make a statement later, Egyptian TV reports. The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo says the army's readiness to bring forward presidential elections appears to be a major concession.
Tens of thousands of people packed Tahrir Square on Tuesday evening following days of protests against the country's military rulers. Field Marshal Tantawi said that the military was only there to protect the people and did not seek permanent power.
Witnesses said many appeared to reject the latest concessions, chanting: "We are not leaving, he (Tantawi) leaves." Salvation government
On Monday, the military-appointed civilian cabinet led by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf tendered its resignation after three days of violent demonstrations. His announcement followed a day of crisis talks between the military and political leaders.
"Presidential elections [are] to be held by the end of June and the final preparations for handing over power by July 1," Emad Abdel Ghafour, leader of the ultra-conservative Nour (Light) party, told Reuters.
"We agreed to accept the resignation of Essam Sharaf's government and to establish a national salvation government," he added.
Parliamentary elections that begin next week will be staggered over three months.Parliamentary elections that begin next week will be staggered over three months.
They were cast in doubt after days of protests and by the offer by the military-appointed civilian cabinet, led by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, to resign.
The military's original timetable called for the new parliament to then choose a 100-member constituent assembly to draw up a new constitution within six months.The military's original timetable called for the new parliament to then choose a 100-member constituent assembly to draw up a new constitution within six months.
A referendum would then approve the document before a presidential election is held. That would mean the military still in power until late 2012 or early 2013.A referendum would then approve the document before a presidential election is held. That would mean the military still in power until late 2012 or early 2013.
Protesters, however, had demanded the presidential vote take place after the parliamentary elections.Protesters, however, had demanded the presidential vote take place after the parliamentary elections.