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| Egypt unrest: Cairo protests continue despite military concessions | Egypt unrest: Cairo protests continue despite military concessions |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of Egyptians have continued to occupy Cairo's Tahrir Square despite an offer from the military for a speedier handover to civilian rule. | Thousands of Egyptians have continued to occupy Cairo's Tahrir Square despite an offer from the military for a speedier handover to civilian rule. |
| After four days of violent clashes, Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi said presidential elections would be held by July 2012. | After four days of violent clashes, Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi said presidential elections would be held by July 2012. |
| But many protesters in the square said the concession was not enough and have demanded the field marshal step down. | But many protesters in the square said the concession was not enough and have demanded the field marshal step down. |
| Clashes continued after dark between riot police and protesters in Cairo. | Clashes continued after dark between riot police and protesters in Cairo. |
| Television pictures from Tahrir Square showed ambulances arriving to pick up injured people. | Television pictures from Tahrir Square showed ambulances arriving to pick up injured people. |
| According to Egypt's ministry of health, at least 30 people have been killed since Saturday and hundreds injured. | According to Egypt's ministry of health, at least 30 people have been killed since Saturday and hundreds injured. |
| Police have been using tear gas, rubber bullets and birdshot against protesters who have been throwing stones. | Police have been using tear gas, rubber bullets and birdshot against protesters who have been throwing stones. |
| Some protesters said live bullets had been fired. | Some protesters said live bullets had been fired. |
| Clashes have also been reported in several other Egyptian cities including Alexandria, Suez, Port Said and Aswan. | Clashes have also been reported in several other Egyptian cities including Alexandria, Suez, Port Said and Aswan. |
| Frustration | Frustration |
| Egypt's ruling military council had previously said presidential elections might not happen until late 2012 or 2013. That move, coupled with a draft constitution produced earlier in the month that would exempt the military and its budget from civilian oversight, prompted a mass demonstration in Tahrir Square on Friday. | Egypt's ruling military council had previously said presidential elections might not happen until late 2012 or 2013. That move, coupled with a draft constitution produced earlier in the month that would exempt the military and its budget from civilian oversight, prompted a mass demonstration in Tahrir Square on Friday. |
| As details of Egypt's military leader's speech filtered through to the crowds, protesters groaned and shook their heads. | As details of Egypt's military leader's speech filtered through to the crowds, protesters groaned and shook their heads. |
| "Irhal" or "leave" was the chant that soon went up, directed at Field Marshal Tantawi and the other generals who have ruled the country since February. | "Irhal" or "leave" was the chant that soon went up, directed at Field Marshal Tantawi and the other generals who have ruled the country since February. |
| Tens of thousands of people had answered calls for another mass rally in Tahrir Square to put pressure on the military for a faster transition to civilian rule. | Tens of thousands of people had answered calls for another mass rally in Tahrir Square to put pressure on the military for a faster transition to civilian rule. |
| However many were unconvinced by the new promises made by the head of the armed forces in his 10-minute televised address. | However many were unconvinced by the new promises made by the head of the armed forces in his 10-minute televised address. |
| Events turned violent when security forces attempted to remove the protesters from the square on Saturday. | Events turned violent when security forces attempted to remove the protesters from the square on Saturday. |
| Many Egyptians have become frustrated with the slow pace of political reforms since Hosni Mubarak was overthrown as president in February after a wave of mass demonstrations. | Many Egyptians have become frustrated with the slow pace of political reforms since Hosni Mubarak was overthrown as president in February after a wave of mass demonstrations. |
| The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (or Scaf) took charge after his ouster, promising to implement the transition to civilian rule. | The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (or Scaf) took charge after his ouster, promising to implement the transition to civilian rule. |
| Speaking on national TV on Tuesday, Field Marshall Tantawi, the head of Scaf, said parliamentary elections scheduled to begin on 28 November would take place as planned, despite the unrest. | Speaking on national TV on Tuesday, Field Marshall Tantawi, the head of Scaf, said parliamentary elections scheduled to begin on 28 November would take place as planned, despite the unrest. |
| Those polls, taking place over three months, are due to set in train the transition to democracy. | Those polls, taking place over three months, are due to set in train the transition to democracy. |
| 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 was held. That would mean the military remaining in power until late 2012 or early 2013. | A referendum would then approve the document before a presidential election was held. That would mean the military remaining 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. |
| 'Not leaving' | 'Not leaving' |
| The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo says the army's readiness to bring forward presidential elections appears to be a major concession. | The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo says the army's readiness to bring forward presidential elections appears to be a major concession. |
| Field Marshal Tantawi said that the military was only there to protect the people and did not seek permanent power. | Field Marshal Tantawi said that the military was only there to protect the people and did not seek permanent power. |
| "The armed forces, represented by their Supreme Council, do not aspire to govern, and put the supreme interest of the country above all considerations," he said. | "The armed forces, represented by their Supreme Council, do not aspire to govern, and put the supreme interest of the country above all considerations," he said. |
| "They are fully prepared to immediately hand over power and to return to their original duty in protecting the homeland if that is what the people want, through a popular referendum if necessary." | "They are fully prepared to immediately hand over power and to return to their original duty in protecting the homeland if that is what the people want, through a popular referendum if necessary." |
| He also said he had accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Essam Sharif's cabinet - appointed by the military - and that a national salvation government would take its place. | He also said he had accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Essam Sharif's cabinet - appointed by the military - and that a national salvation government would take its place. |
| His announcement followed a day of crisis talks between the military and political leaders. | His announcement followed a day of crisis talks between the military and political leaders. |
| After he spoke, protesters in Tahrir Square chanted: "We are not leaving, he (Tantawi) leaves." | After he spoke, protesters in Tahrir Square chanted: "We are not leaving, he (Tantawi) leaves." |
| "We are not happy with this speech," a protester named Tamer Lokman told the BBC's Yolande Knell in Tahrir Square. | "We are not happy with this speech," a protester named Tamer Lokman told the BBC's Yolande Knell in Tahrir Square. |
| "It reminded us of those made by the former president, Hosni Mubarak when he didn't answer our demands," he said. | "It reminded us of those made by the former president, Hosni Mubarak when he didn't answer our demands," he said. |
| Are you in Egypt? Did you witness the clashes? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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