Thousands of people yesterday chanted for the downfall of Egypt’s military leader at a rally in Cairo, as anger mounts over the army’s handling of a transition from the country’s former autocratic regime.

“The people want the fall of the Field Marshall,” they chanted in unison in reference to Hussein Tantawi, ousted former president Hosni Mubarak’s defence minister for two decades who now heads the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

Demonstrators broke off from Tahrir Square – the focus of protests that toppled Mubarak – where they have camped out since Friday, marching down the main street of Qasr al-Aini to the cabinet headquarters.

Military forces formed a wall to block protesters from reaching the building, as armoured vehicles parked along the road.

The march comes after pro-democracy activists vowed to raise the ceiling of protests and sit-ins amid warnings by the military council earlier that they were harming the national interest.

Protesters who first took to the streets to demand Mubarak’s resignation have increasingly directed their anger at the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

The army, which was hailed as heroes at the start of the January 25 uprising for not shooting protesters, has come under fire for using Mubarak-era tactics to stifle dissent and maintain an absolute and unchallenged grip on power.

But the council insisted it will not cede control over the transition.

“The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces stresses that it will not renounce its role in managing the affairs of the country during this critical time in Egypt’s history,” SCAF member Mohsen al-Fangary said in a speech broadcast on state television.

In a stern address, Mr Fangary warned those who “deviate from the peaceful approach during demonstrations and sit-ins and obstruct the institutions of the state.”

He also warned against spreading rumours that “damage the nation and threaten its stability.”