Major General Hassan al-Ruwaini, chief of Cairo's central command, has urged protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square to evacuate. The Egyptian military figure visited the square on Monday night with a delegation of senior army officers.
"Give the armed forces a chance to fulfil your demands," eyewitnesses quoted al-Ruwaini as saying. "We, the armed forces, are working for your best interests. Evidence of this is our call for constitutional changes to pave the way for democracy and transparency, and ensure the freedom to select the country's president."
Tahrir was the epicenter of demonstrations during the popular uprising that kicked off on 25 January, leading to the resignation of former president Hosni Mubarak on 11 February after spending 30 years in power. Protesters critical of the steps currently being taken by the army–who have been in control of the country since Mubarak stepped down–have remained in the square despite being attacked by soldiers in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Protesters said al-Ruwaini told them to prepare for parliamentary and presidential polls. They added that some demonstrators rejected his speech and interrupted to chant slogans against the head of the interim government, Ahmed Shafiq, who was appointed by Mubarak days before his ouster.
Witnesses said protesters, vowing to continue demonstrating until their demands are met, remained in the square despite al-Ruwaini’s assurances that Shafiq would leave office soon.
