CAIRO — Egypt’s civilian Cabinet offered to resign Monday after three days of violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Tahrir Square, but the action failed to satisfy protesters deeply frustrated at the new military rulers.

The Health Ministry and a doctor at an improvised field hospital on the square said at least 26 people have been killed and 1,750 wounded in the latest violence as activists sought a “second revolution” to force out the generals who have failed to stabilize the country, salvage the economy or bring democracy.

Throughout the day, young protesters demanding the military hand over power to a civilian government fought with black-clad police, hurling stones and firebombs and throwing back the tear gas canisters being fired by police into the square, which was the epicenter of the movement that ousted authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak.

By midnight, tens of thousands of protesters were in the huge downtown square.

The powerful Muslim Brotherhood has balked at joining the protests, fearing they’ll disrupt elections next week that the Islamists expect to dominate.

The protests in Tahrir and elsewhere across this nation have forced the ruling military council as well as the Cabinet it backs into two concessions, but neither were significant enough to send anyone home.

Advertisement

The council issued a law that bans anyone convicted of corruption from running for office or holding a government post.

Hours later, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf submitted its resignation to the council, a move that was widely expected given the government’s perceived inefficiency and its almost complete subordination to the generals.

Protesters cheered the news of the Cabinet resignation offer, but they almost immediately resumed chanting, “The people want to topple the field marshal” – a reference to military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi.

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.