Egypt’s ruling military council yesterday sought to placate an angry protest movement by announcing the sacking of hundreds of police officers and a delay of parliamentary elections.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces – which took power when president Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February – has been struggling to contain nationwide protests denouncing the army’s handling of the transition.

Hundreds have been camping out in Cairo’s Tahrir Square – the epicentre of protests that toppled Mr Mubarak – and in the canal city of Suez to demand political change. Among protesters’ key demands are the sacking and trial of all police officers accused of torture or killing protesters and a reform of the interior ministry. Anger over routine police torture was a driving force behind the January 25 uprising, during which clashes with security forces and Mubarak loyalists left 846 people dead and more than 6,000 injured.

Yesterday, Interior Minister Mansur Essawy announced the sacking of hundreds of senior police officers in “the biggest reshuffle in the police force’s history.”

He told reporters that 505 generals and 164 commissioned officers would lose their jobs, which includes those currently on trial for killing protesters during the uprising.

The reshuffle would also seem some officers retire early, some relocated and others promoted, and the hiring of hundreds of new recruits.

He said the move “would pump new blood into the ministry which would ... adhere to the goals and principles of the January 25 revolution.”

The military council also said parliamentary elections scheduled for September have been delayed for up to two months.

“It has been decided to hold elections for the People’s Assembly and the Shura Council next October or November,” Mena state news agency quoted the official as saying, in reference to the lower and upper houses of parliament.