Egyptian revolution continues as thousands swarm Tahrir Square

Thousands swarmed into Cairos Tahrir Square on Friday for a mass rally to demand the end of military rule, capping a week of deadly clashes and political upheaval, as Washington called for a swift handover of power to civilians. rally comes just days before the first parliamentary elections since Hosni Mubarak was toppled by a popular uprising in February and the army took power.We believe that the full transfer of power to a civilian government must take place in a just and inclusive manner that responds to the legitimate aspirations of the Egyptian people, as soon as possible, White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.The remarks came as private Egyptian television channels reported that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) had tasked former prime minister Kamal al-Ganzuri with forming a new cabinet.But the leadership of the new government risks being a poisoned chalice, with protesters determined to bring down any premier who is not given full powers by the military.On Tuesday, the SCAF accepted the resignation of the caretaker cabinet headed by the once-popular Essam Sharaf, whose fall from grace was due to his perceived weakness in the face of the army.The United States strongly believes that the new Egyptian government must be empowered with real authority immediately, Carney said.Pro-democracy groups have proposed a national salvation government made up of a civilian council to include ex-Arab League chief Amr Mussa and former UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei, who was expected to head down to Tahrir Square later on Friday.They propose that the civilian council, which would also include other high-profile Egyptian personalities of various political stripes, redraw the transition roadmap and lead the country to democratic rule.The SCAF has said repeatedly that it does not have political ambitions and plans to hand power to an elected civilian authority after presidential elections which are set to take place no later than the end of June 2012.On Thursday, SCAF insisted that it would not bow to pressure from the protesters in Tahrir, saying they did not represent the whole country.The people have entrusted us with a mission and, if we abandon it now, it would be a betrayal of the people, senior SCAF member General Mukthar al-Mulla told reporters.The armed forces do not want to stay in power. We want to put the wishes of the people above all else, he said.In Tahrir, among the pitched tents of a week-old sit-in, protesters gathered for what they called Last Chance Friday while a counter-rally is planned in the Abassiya neighbourhood, three kilometres (two miles) east of the square, pro-SCAF groups said.The Tahrir rally comes as anti-military demonstrations enter their second week, despite an apology by the military rulers on Thursday for the deaths of protesters at the hands of police.The violence, in which at least 41 protesters have been killed -- 36 of them in Cairo -- and more than 3,000 injured, led to the resignation of caretaker Sharafs cabinet on Tuesday.The clashes have cast a shadow over Mondays parliamentary elections, prompting the SCAF to pledge to maintain security during the first poll since Mubaraks ouster and insist it will take place on time.We will not delay the elections. This is the final word. They will be conducted according to the original dates, SCAF member Mamduh Shahine told reporters on Thursday.There were fresh clashes between security forces and protesters in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and in the Nile Delta city of Tanta Thursday, the state MENA news agency reported. In Tahrir Square, some demonstrators remained unequivocal in their demands for the military to go.But many Egyptians are worried about the impact on the country of the standoff between the protesters and the army.If the military just steps down, there will be chaos. I mean, there is chaos now, so imagine what would happen if the military steps down, said Essam al-Arabi, who sells leather handbags near Tahrir Square.Standard and Poors said on Thursday that it had cut its long-term rating on Egypt by one notch to B.The downgrade reflects our opinion that Egypts weak political and economic profile... has deteriorated further following the latest clashes, the ratings agency said.Tantawi, Mubaraks long-time defence minister before he took the reins, tried to appease protesters and defuse Egypts political crisis in a rare television address on Tuesday.But he was criticised for not mentioning the deaths at the hands of police.A statement posted on SCAFs Facebook page Thursday said it presented its regrets and deep apologies for the deaths of martyrs from among Egypts loyal sons during the recent events in Tahrir Square.The deaths had prompted an unusually strongly worded statement from Al-Azhar, Sunni Islams highest seat of learning, denouncing police violence and calling on the interior ministry not to point their weapons at demonstrators.Any dialogue stained with blood is doomed and its fruit will be bitter, grand imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb said.