Cairo: Egypt’s Army Chief Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi has sweared to hand over to a civilian president by July and made a conditional offer for an immediate end to army rule after fierce pressure from street protests here on Tuesday.
Tantawi, head of the military council that has ruled Egypt since Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow on Feb. 11, told the nation the army did not seek or want power.
“The army is ready to go back to barracks immediately if the people wish that through a popular referendum, if need be,” the 76-year-old said in a surprising segment of a televised speech.
Demonstrators in Cairo’s Tahrir Square put down the offer, chanting “Leave, leave” after watching the address. More clashes broke out in a nearby street leading to the Interior Ministry.
Looking far from confident, Tantawi said parliamentary polls would begin on time on Monday and a presidential vote would take place in June, far sooner than the military’s previous plans that would have kept it in power until late 2012 or early 2013.
The concessions, agreed in a meeting between the army and some politicians, have been wrenched from the military by five days of protests in Tahrir Square and elsewhere, amid violence that has killed 36 people and wounded more than 1,250.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription