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Egypt unrest: Cairo protests continue despite military concessions Egypt unrest: Army concessions fail to end Cairo unrest
(about 4 hours 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 Marshal 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 throughout the night between 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.
In the light of Tuesday's announcement from the government that next week's parliamentary elections are going ahead, and that presidential elections will be brought forward to next summer, the situation around the protesters is a little more complex.
It's important to remember that the Muslim Brotherhood - which is probably the biggest opposition group in Egypt and certainly the best organised and the most influential - is not part of this protest. It wants the elections to go ahead, and lots of people in the square don't want elections. They say they would rather have the military government stand down first.
It's not February any more, when people were united in calling for the government to stand down. Different opposition groups have got different agendas now. Egypt is growing into an era where it has proper competitive party politics.
While Tahrir square compels the eye, it's not representative of the whole of Egypt - probably not even the whole of Cairo.
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.
FrustrationFrustration
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.
"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.
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 he was ousted and promised 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 Marshal Tantawi, the head of Scaf, said parliamentary elections scheduled to begin on 28 November would take place as planned.
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.
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