CAIRO: Political party representatives who attended crisis talks with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) Tuesday have said that the resignation of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf’s Cabinet was accepted and that a national salvation government is in the process of being formed.
SCAF has reportedly also agreed to stage presidential elections before July, bowing to demands by protesters for a swifter transfer of power, politicians who met the army told Al Jazeera Mubasher.
Abou Elela Mady, the head of the Wasat Party said that the presidential elections will be held before July 2012.
Under the previous army timetable, the vote may not have happened until late 2012 or early 2013.
Presidential hopefuls Mohamed ElBaradei and Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh are recommended to head the new national salvation government. Both had refused to attend the meeting with SCAF.
The talks were held as tens of thousands swelled in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, demanding that Egypt’s military leaders quickly hand over power to a civilian government.
Parties across the spectrum tried to defuse growing calls for a "second revolution."
Activists, however, have stressed that ongoing protests are the continuation of the revolution that started in January to topple Hosni Mubarak’s regime, and called for a million-man march on Tuesday to reiterate demands for civilian rule.
Protesters flocked to Tahrir early in the day and by evening, the iconic square was packed, as demonstrations took place simultaneously around the country.
Sparked by the violent dispersal of a peaceful Tahrir sit-in early Saturday, protesters have since been facing off with security forces, as the rising death toll reached 28 with over 17,00 injured.
Battling on the front line of Mohamed Mahmoud Street, protesters managed to secure the rest of the square as police and military forces used batons, tear gas and birdshot in attempts to clear the heart of downtown Cairo. While the square itself was relatively calm, fighting on the front line continued with injured still being carried out to the nearby field hospitals.
Sharaf’s Cabinet had submitted its resignation to SCAF Monday evening, on the back of these violent confrontations.
“SCAF has to take quick action regarding the formation of a national salvation government because we’ve had enough impediments to the dreams of the revolution,” said Hussein Mansour, member of Al-Wafd party’s higher committee.
He recommended figures such as ElBaradei, Abol Fotouh, Hazem El-Biblawi and deputy PM Aly El-Selmy to be included in the new Cabinet.
Earlier, the Free Egyptians Party released a statement saying that they refused to attend the crisis talks with SCAF until they accepted Cabinet’s resignation and appointed a national salvation government.
“Crossing over from the transitional period into constitutional and democratic rule, ending the squandering of state resources and mismanagement of the economy, regaining security and stability will not be achieved except with a national salvation government with a strong mandate,” the party said, adding that they recommend ElBaradei as he has the qualifications to carry out this responsibility.
Presidential hopeful Hamdeen Sabahy also said that a national salvation government was the only way out of this crisis.
In a statement, Sabahy said that this government’s main objectives should be “food, security and democracy to the people.”
He noted the importance of restructuring of the Ministry of Interior which must “protect citizens and not the regime.”
“A citizen participating in a peaceful protest cannot be killed,” he said.
Furthermore, Sabahy said that a national salvation government should include all political currents without sidelining anyone.
The April 6 Youth Movement had said earlier that they “are on the street to pressure SCAF to accept Cabinet’s resignation and move fast,” said Injy Hamdy, spokesperson of the movement.
“Sharaf’s Cabinet must go and [Minister of Interior Mansour] El-Essawi has to be put on trial and an investigation into the violence against the protestors must be initiated,” she added.
The movement said that demonstrations will continue until a national salvation Cabinet is formed.
“For the past three days [Tahrir] has been demanding a national salvation government … but SCAF is dealing with people with arrogance and Mubarak regime’s methods are still ruling us,” said Karima El-Hifnawy from the Egyptian Socialist Party and member of the National Association for Change.
Protesters faced off with security forces as injuries continued to flow into field hospitals. (AFP Photo/Khaled Desouki)
