Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of Egypt's ruling military junta, reminded Egyptians of economic and security troubles and made modest political concessions during a speech Tuesday evening, responding to demonstrations across Egypt that called for a quicker transition of power and protested a violent crackdown by security forces. Massive demonstrations and clashes have rocked cities across Egypt since Saturday, after riot police violently dispersed a sit-in protesting a document that would give the Supreme Council preferential treatment in a constitution set to be drafted following the elections. Tantawi, the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, began his speech describing the challenges faced by the council. He said that events consistently had thwarted the return to stability, and played up the military's role in facing the status quo in Egypt. Dire economic and security conditions have plagued Egypt, with many Egyptians seeking a quick return to stability. He went on to make political concessions that fell short of many protestors' demands that power is immediately handed over to a civilian authority. Tantawi said he would accept the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf pending the formation of a new government. The future of the government was unclear since Monday evening due to conflicting reports and statements by militiary and government officials. He also said a referendum would decide if the military council handed over authority to a civilian government, although he did not cite a date certain. He also set presidential elections for June 2012 at the latest. The council currently controls the powers of the presidency, the most powerful institution in the Egyptian government. He denied any wrongdoing by the military, saying that the Egyptian army had not shot a single Egyptian citizen. That account is disputed by activists, who cite clashes between demonstrators and Egyptian military police outside of the state television building, Maspiro. Tantawi, who was defense minister under former president Hosni Mubarak, said the responsibilities associated with governing the country were inherently different than the nature of the army. He said the army was always at the service of Egyptians and was working to spread peace and stability. He denied accusations that the Supreme Council of Armed Forces wanted to stay in power. The response in downtown Cairo's Tahrir Square was defiant. Protesters chanted “Leave!” which was the same response following a speech by Mubarak in January. They rejected the national referendum, which would validate continued rule by the military council. Clashes between protestors and Egyptian riot police continued in the downtown Cairo Neighborhood of Bab al-Luq and on Mohammed Mahmoud Street. The clashes, which according to activists have claimed the lives of over 30 and injured over 1,000, have the elections' feasibility into doubt, and with it the future of Egypt's transition.
