Egyptians Want End Of Military Rule

Egyptian protesters cover their heads from the sun with Egyptian flags, as they protest in Tahrir Square in Cairo on July 12, 2011

Thousands of Egyptians have marched on government offices in the capital, Cairo, demanding the removal of the ruling military council.

The march comes after the ruling generals vowed to use all legitimate means to end the five days of protests in Tahrir Square, the epicenter of demonstrations that forced President Hosni Mubarak to step down on February 11.

Protesters are angry with the slow pace in trying Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for three decades, and officials charged with corruption and killing protesters.

Mubarak is set to go on trial on August 3 over the death of more than 840 protesters in the uprising.

In the most recent corruption trial, former Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, once praised for reviving Egypt's economy, was given a one-year suspended jail sentence.

In a bid to satisfy the protesters, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf promised on July 11 a cabinet reshuffle within a week.

He later accepted the resignation of his deputy, Yehia el-Gamal, who demonstrators had complained was ineffectual.

Former Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa, a presidential hopeful, said the protesters have legitimate demands.

"There is a gap between the revolution and the swiftness it was demanding and [there is a] delay on the other hand which creates a gap and leads to questioning whether the revolution took place and whether there was a radical change in the country or not," Musa told Al Jazeera television in an interview.

compiled from agency reports