CAIRO - The Muslim Brotherhood, once banned and playing a growing role in the new Egypt, rejected a government reshuffle on Monday, calling for a purge of the old guard cabinet appointed by deposed leader Hosni Mubarak. In a bid to placate pro-democracy activists, the reshuffle late on Sunday named several Mubarak opponents but disappointed those eager for a new line-up as key defense, foreign, justice, interior and finance portfolios were left unchanged. Egypt's new military rulers, who took over after an 18-day uprising ended 30 years of Mubarak's iron rule, has said changes in the constitution for elections in six months should be ready soon and hated emergency laws would be lifted before the polls. But for many democracy advocates, who want a completely new cabinet with no links to Mubarak's corrupt and autocratic elite to govern the Arab world's most populous nation, the military needs to put fresh faces in office. "No one offered us any post and had they done so, we would have refused because we request what the public demands that this government quit as it is part of the former regime," said Essam El-Erian, a senior member of the Brotherhood, which is Egypt's most organised political group. "We want a new technocratic government that has no connection with the old era," he told Reuters. The Brotherhood, viewed with suspicion by Washington and which wants a democracy with Islamic principles, is represented on a constitutional change committee, a council to protect the revolution and will register as soon as new rules allow. Uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia have spread like wildfire in the Arab world, threatening entrenched dynasties from Libya to Bahrain. The West has watched with alarm as long-time allies and foes came under threat, urging reform and restraint. Uncertainty remains over how much influence Egypt's military will seek to exert in reshaping a corrupt and oppressive ruling system which it has propped up for six decades, with diplomats saying it is vital to "create an open political space." Wary of a clampdown, the Brotherhood took a cautious line early in the protests but has slowly assumed a more prominent role. It still treads warily, saying it will not field a presidential candidate or seek a majority in parliament. Any sign the army is reneging on its promises of democracy and civilian rule in this key US ally which has a peace treaty with Israel could reignite mass protests on the street. Friday's celebrations which marked a week since Mubarak's overthrow served as a reminder to the military of people power. The military on Monday announced an amnesty for weapons stolen during the revolution and there were pockets of protests in and around Cairo over pay and conditions despite an order aimed at ending strikes and protests damaging the economy. In moves to appease democracy advocates, authorities said on Sunday they released 108 political prisoners and Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq on Monday ordered that streets be renamed to honor some of the 356 "martyrs" who died in the revolt. But it is increasingly clear that demands for a complete cabinet overhaul top many political activists' agendas along with lifting emergency rule and freeing political prisoners. Mubarak, 82, shuffled his cabinet shortly after protests over corruption, poverty and repression erupted on January 25 in an attempt to assuage rage over his autocratic rule and to try and distance himself from his own regime. Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, who leads the ruling military council that is running Egypt, has been defense minister for 20 years and, according to diplomats, had the job thrust upon him and wants to get back to running the military.
