<p>Egyptians, in their thousands, have returned to the Tahrir Square, demanding that the ruling military council cede power immediately to a civilian government, nine months after an uprising ousted Hosni Mubarak. A major part of the public angst is directed against the continued control of Tantawi, who was Mubarak's defence minister for two decades.<br /><br />Tantawi, however, remained defiant, telling newspersons at a press conference that the elections will be held on schedule and that no one will be allowed to pressure the armed forces.<br /><br />With the protesters rejecting the appointment of Kamal Al-Ganzouri as the new prime minister, former IAEA chief and presidential hopeful Mohammad Elbaradei evinced interest in taking up the lead in forming a national salvation government.<br /><br />ElBaradei, who met Tantawi earlier in the day, said he was "ready to renounce the idea of being a candidate in the presidential election if officially asked to form a cabinet".<br /><br />ElBaradei said he was "willing to respond to the demands of the youth of the revolution and the political forces calling for a national salvation government that represents all the national forces".<br /><br />Tantawi, however, asked Elbaradei and another leading politician Amr Moussa to support newly-appointed prime minister Al-Ganzouri, 78, who has earlier too served as premier during Mubarak's regime. <br /><br />Political activists called for another mass protest today to express their rejection of Al Ganzouri's appointment.<br /><br />They also demanded the trial of those found responsible for the deaths of over 40 people since clashes broke out on November 19 in a week of deadly confrontations between protesters and police.</p>.<p>They also want a complete overhaul of the interior ministry, which they believe is still dominated by Mubarak-era officials.<br /><br />The confrontation between the Army and the protesters refused to end even as the country prepared for its first parliamentary elections since the fall of Mubarak.<br /><br />Egypt will go to polls tomorrow for the first round of elections that will be held over a period of three months.<br /><br />Two days of voting from tomorrow will take place in the main cities of Cairo and Alexandria as well as Fayum, Luxor, Port Said, Damietta, Kafr el-Sheikh and the Red Sea province.<br /><br />Other cities and regions will follow on December 14 and January 3. </p>
<p>Egyptians, in their thousands, have returned to the Tahrir Square, demanding that the ruling military council cede power immediately to a civilian government, nine months after an uprising ousted Hosni Mubarak. A major part of the public angst is directed against the continued control of Tantawi, who was Mubarak's defence minister for two decades.<br /><br />Tantawi, however, remained defiant, telling newspersons at a press conference that the elections will be held on schedule and that no one will be allowed to pressure the armed forces.<br /><br />With the protesters rejecting the appointment of Kamal Al-Ganzouri as the new prime minister, former IAEA chief and presidential hopeful Mohammad Elbaradei evinced interest in taking up the lead in forming a national salvation government.<br /><br />ElBaradei, who met Tantawi earlier in the day, said he was "ready to renounce the idea of being a candidate in the presidential election if officially asked to form a cabinet".<br /><br />ElBaradei said he was "willing to respond to the demands of the youth of the revolution and the political forces calling for a national salvation government that represents all the national forces".<br /><br />Tantawi, however, asked Elbaradei and another leading politician Amr Moussa to support newly-appointed prime minister Al-Ganzouri, 78, who has earlier too served as premier during Mubarak's regime. <br /><br />Political activists called for another mass protest today to express their rejection of Al Ganzouri's appointment.<br /><br />They also demanded the trial of those found responsible for the deaths of over 40 people since clashes broke out on November 19 in a week of deadly confrontations between protesters and police.</p>.<p>They also want a complete overhaul of the interior ministry, which they believe is still dominated by Mubarak-era officials.<br /><br />The confrontation between the Army and the protesters refused to end even as the country prepared for its first parliamentary elections since the fall of Mubarak.<br /><br />Egypt will go to polls tomorrow for the first round of elections that will be held over a period of three months.<br /><br />Two days of voting from tomorrow will take place in the main cities of Cairo and Alexandria as well as Fayum, Luxor, Port Said, Damietta, Kafr el-Sheikh and the Red Sea province.<br /><br />Other cities and regions will follow on December 14 and January 3. </p>