Cairo:
Egypt's new military rulers yesterday revealed their plans for a transition to democracy, announcing the dissolution of the Parliament chosen in a rigged election last November, and suspending the Constitution that would prevent a genuinely democratic poll.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, to which President Hosni Mubarak ceded power last Friday, also made clear in its "Communique No. 5" that the generals would remain in control for just six months, within which time new elections would be held.
The announcement, addressing some of the protest movement's key demands, came as the military moved to clear the streets, although by persuasion rather than force as was demonstrated by the good-natured standoff on Tahrir Square, where some of the remaining protesters refused to dismantle their tents until all of their demands had been met.
Leaders of the youth groups that drove the revolution said the statement was generally positive.
The military's statement came as Tahrir Square was open to traffic for the first time in more than two weeks yesterday.
Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq said that Mubarak remains in Sharm el-Sheikh, denying rumors that he possibly fled the country.