Egypt: Army regime wobbles as massive crowd gathers

Tens of thousands of Egyptians demanding an end to military rule converged on Cairos Tahrir square on Friday in what activists say will be the biggest day yet in a week of demonstrations in which 41 people have been killed.The military men who took over after people power toppled. President Hosni Mubarak on Feb. 11 are themselves under fire from protesters who accuse them of clinging to power, leading to street battles that look like a replay of Februarys unrest.The ruling army council named Kamal Ganzouri, 78, who served as prime minister under Mubarak from 1996 to 1999, to head a national salvation government. Prime Minister Essam Sharafs cabinet had resigned this week amid the protests.The United States, long a bedrock supporter of Egypts military, called on the generals to step aside as soon as possible and give real power to the new cabinet immediately.The military rulers say they are working on a transition of power, including parliamentary elections set for Monday, which could be overshadowed if violence continues. Some protesters say the army cannot be trusted to hold a clean vote.Speaking to Reuters by telephone shortly after his appointment was announced, Ganzouri declined to reveal details of his new cabinet. Everything will be outlined later, he said.After his appointment was confirmed, crowds in Tahrir chanted: They brought a thief and appointed another thief, referring to Sharaf and Ganzouri.Say without fear: the (army) council must leave, they shouted.Activists sought to bring a million people into the streets of Cairo on what they dubbed the Friday of the last chance. Thousands flooded into Tahrir Square for prayers, where Sheikh Mazhar Shahin told worshippers the protest would go on until Egypt had a new salvation government.Protesters said they expected the crowd to continue to grow in the afternoon. Friday, the weekly Muslim prayer day, has traditionally been the biggest day of demonstrations in the Arab Spring protests sweeping the Middle East this year.We are all for the revolution and stand steadfast for the demands of the revolution. There is no conflict between us and the army, the cleric said in an address over loudspeakers.