Updated on
Summary A man died as Egyptian security forces clashed with protesters camped outside the Cabinet building.
Egyptian security forces clashed with protesters camped outside the Cabinet building Saturday, leaving one man dead, as tensions rose two days ahead of parliamentary elections being held despite mass demonstrations against military rule.The violence occurred as a wave of protests against military rule was given extra impetus by the Egyptian militarys decision on Friday to appoint a Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri who served under deposed President Hosni Mubarak.The Obama administration has increased pressure on Egypts military rulers, who took over from Mubarak, to transfer power to civilian leaders throwing its support behind protesters massed on Cairos central Tahrir Square for more than a week.More than 100,000 demonstrators packed into the square on Friday in the biggest rally since the current unrest began. They rejected el-Ganzouris appointment and presented an alternative to el-Ganzouri. By midday Saturday, the crowd size dwindled to some 5,000.Twenty-four protest groups, including two political parties, have announced they are creating their own national salvation government to be headed by Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei with deputies from across the political spectrum to which they demanded the military hand over power.Egyptian state TV said that the head of the ruling military council Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi met separately with ElBaradei and another presidential hopeful Amr Moussa, who was the former Arab League chief, on Saturday, but it gave no details.Hundreds also set up camp outside the Cabinet building, spending the night in blankets and tents to prevent the 78-year-old politician from entering to take up his new post. Early Saturday, they clashed with security forces who allegedly tried to disperse them.
