Military calls for crisis talks

Egypt’s ruling military late yesterday called for crisis talks with the country’s political forces, as deadly clashes raged for a third day between police and protesters demanding democratic change.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) “invited all the political and national forces for an emergency dialogue to look into the reasons behind the aggravation of the current crisis and ways to resolve it as quickly as possible,” it said in a statement carried by Mena news agency.

The SCAF – which took power when Hosni Mubarak was ousted by a popular uprising in February – called on “all forces and citizens to commit to (restoring) calm, and creating an atmosphere of stability with the goal of pursuing the political process.”

The statement came on the third straight day of clashes in Cairo’s Tahrir Square that left 24 people dead, plunging Egypt into its worst crisis since Mr Mubarak’s fall.

Earlier yesterday Egypt’s Cabinet said it had resigned as clashes raged in Tahrir Square between police and protesters demanding democratic change.

State TV quoted a military source as saying the ruling military council had rejected the resignation, but Information Minister Osama Heikal told the official Mena news agency the matter had not yet been decided.

PM Sharaf’s resignation, if accepted, threatens to derail parliamentary elections scheduled for November 28 – the first polls since Mr Mubarak was toppled in February.

Tens of thousands of people packed Tahrir Square yesterday night, as clashes continued for a third straight day between protesters and police in and around the square.

Political forces behind the uprising have called for a mass rally today to demand that the army cede power to civilian rule. In a Facebook page for the rally, the groups called for the immediate resignation of Mr Sharaf’s cabinet and the formation of a “national salvation” government.

They also demanded a presidential election by April 2012 and a complete overhaul of the interior ministry.

Police and military forces yesterday sporadically used batons, tear gas and birdshot against thousands of protesters in Tahrir Square.

Renewed fighting also broke out in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, state television said.

Hundreds have also been injured during the protests that have raged in Cairo, Alexandria and the canal city of Suez.

Culture minister Emad Abu Ghazi earlier quit in protest at the government response to the demonstrations, he told the official MENA news agency.

The health ministry said 24 people had died in the violence, kicking off a violent countdown to next week’s parliamentary elections.

Egypt’s stock exchange tumbled 4.04 per cent on closing yesterday, with the main EGX-30 index dropping 3,860.00 points.