Egyptian SCAF begins talks to form national salvation government

Clashes in Cairo reached an uneasy pause on Thursday The scheduled press conference by Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) began Thursday morning. Chief of staff Mokhtar El-Mola said the military never intended to replace the legislature, and repeated Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi's claim that the army has never used bullets on the Egyptian people.
"Tensions is increasing for some unjustified reasons ...we are not biased, we are not supporting any party...the SCAF 'is not looking for power'. The interests of the nation are the most important and the army is 'ready to go back into the barracks'. Most important is to stop violence against the demonstrators ...the right of protest is for everyone unless there is disturbance, said El-Mola.
He went on to say that the army was there to protect the Egyptian people and maintain stability.
He also stated that the elections would go ahead as scheduled and the presidential election would take place by June 2012.
"There is corruption that went on for years and it is impossible within a few months ...to put an end to corruption. Any violations of human rights will be tackled," said El-Mola.
El-Mola also said that detainees will be released and those responsible for violence will be held "accountable".
Elections are also to proceed as planned, while protestors in Tahrir Square remain adamant. Egyptian protestors want the elections to be postponed and a council of elders to replace the military rulers. "The people demand the end of the field marshal," said one large banner.
The SCAF began deliberations with political forces on Wednesday regarding the formation of the new "national salvation" government as security forces violently clashed with anti-government protestors across the country. Four people were reportedly killed in Wednesday's clashes, two in Cairo and another two in Alexandria where one was shot while the other was suffocated by gas. In addition, dozens of injuries were reported in different parts of Egypt.
The SCAF also apologised for the deaths of demonstrators at the hands of police as protests demanding an immediate handover to civilian control entered a seventh day.
"The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces presents its regrets and deep apologies for the deaths of martyrs from among Egypt's loyal sons during the recent events in Tahrir Square," it said in a statement on its Facebook page.
"The council also offers its condolences to the families of the martyrs across Egypt."
Clashes between Egyptian riot police and protesters stopped overnight for the first time in days on Thursday, though demonstrators occupying Cairo's Tahrir Square vowed to stay put until the army relinquished power.
Meanwhile, SCAF denied using gas bombs or live ammunition against protestors in Cairo and Alexandria. However, most of the dead in the preceding five days of protest have had bullet wounds, medics say. And demonstrators have shown off cartridge casings they say come from weapons used by the authorities.
Sources reported that the most prominent names candidate for leading the salvation government included, among others: Dr. Hosam Issa, the former Minister of Information Dr. Mansour Hassan, the coordinator of the National Association for Change, leading opposition figure and former IAEA chief Dr. Mohamed  Elbaradei. The most likely candidate is said to be Issa.  
The SCAF announced in its statement that the armed forces did not and would not allow any showdown with civilians. The statement also said that the Forces were abiding by its basic rules that dictate no use of any weapon against the Egyptian people. The SCAF also demanded the Egyptian Youth not to react badly to rumours.    
In light of the violence, Interior Minister Mansour el-Essawy presented a report to the military council proposing a postponement of the parliamentary election planned for November 28, Al Jazeera television said on Thursday, quoting unnamed sources. It was not immediately possible to verify the report.
On Wednesday evening a ceasefire on Mohamed Mahmoud street was brought about by Al Azhar imams who formed a human shield between protestors and police. Most of the protestors then headed towards the forces and started to shake hands cheering “Unarmed, Unarmed.” Shortly after, security forces retreated to Lazoghly Square to take their positions for protecting the Ministry of Interior. It ended abruptly with police firing tear gas shells and rubber bullets at protestors once again. Journalists said the street, epicentre of the main fighting just off Tahrir Square, was a "two-way street for ambulances", and passed out protestors being rushed to the hospital.
Thousands of protesters rallied Wednesday in Cairo’s Tahrir Square demanding an end to military rule, despite a promise by Egypt’s interim leader to transfer power to an elected president by mid-2012.
Less than two hours after the speech by Egypt’s military ruler Tantawi, clashes flared up again on Mohamed Mahmoud Street, a sign that activists and politician say indicates that the nation’s military rulers are following the former regime’s failed strategy to remain in power.
Eyewitnesses and doctors at a makeshift field hospital said there were an invisible substance causing suffocation and inflammation of the eyes. Reports of protesters fainting were widespread, a report carried by Egypt’s al-Masry al-Youm said on Wednesday.
One man was killed in clashes early on Wednesday in the second city Alexandria, one of several towns that saw unrest, as protesters continued to battle police around the interior ministry headquarters, close to the central Tahrir Square in Cairo.
The death toll from confrontations between protesters and police around Egypt has reached 38, in addition to over a thousand injured, according to figures from a reputed Egyptian rights group. The health ministry however pegged the number of dead to 32 and injured at 870.
The U.N. human rights chief called Wednesday for an independent probe into the killing of protestors by Egypt's military and security forces.
“I urge the Egyptian authorities to end the clearly excessive use of force against protestors in Tahrir square and elsewhere in the country,” said Navi Pillay, adding that “there should be a prompt, impartial and independent investigation, and accountability for those found responsible for the abuses.”
“There should be a prompt, impartial and independent investigation, and accountability for those found responsible for the abuses that have taken place should be ensured,” added the U.N. rights chief.
About the SCAF's statement, Ahmed Doma, a political activist, said to 'Arabstoday': “Security forces are still practicing excessive violence, especially after the statement made by the field marshal Tantawi.”
He added “Gas bombs are fired with huge amounts in addition to cartridges and rubber bullets. Two lives were claimed today after being shot by live ammunition two hours ago. Filed hospitals increased in Tahrir Square to more than 10, but they are not sufficient if compared to the huge number of injuries.”  
“Tantawi follows the steps of Mubarak and this is the first statement to him, so there are just two statements left and then he steps down.”
Doma added that Tantawi placed his bets on the Islamist political forces and is trying hard to win them over by running the elections in its due time, which represents the spoils they are expecting from their current battle. "Elections are a life-and-death battle for the Islamists and they can do anything to run it n the exact time determined by the SCAF, even if it costs them launching a second Battle of the Camel,” said Doma.
Dr Hesham Ibrahi an otolaryngology  consultant, confirmed to 'Arabstoday' through his work in the field hospital that gas fired in the square had no smell and according to tear-gas categorisation were CL – CS- CR. "The first one of them, CL,is the weakest one, while the second, CS, which is commonly used by the forces attacking the square, causes suffocation and nerve spasms and inhalation of the gas leads to death. Although it is internationally prohibited, Egypt did not sign the prohibition agreement for that gas and still uses it against protestors. The third, CR, is commonly used in chemical wars, and is the most dangerous and hsould not be used at all," said Dr. Ibrahim.
On the political front, Dr. Mohamed Abu El Ghar, the chairman of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, apologised for not taking part in the meeting held in SCAF headquarters illustrating that he didn’t do so because the council didn’t do what had been agreed upon at the meeting held between political representatives and Samy Anan, the Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces.
He added that during the meeting with Anan, some points were agreed upon including putting an end to violence practiced by security forces, providing an apology to the people of Egypt occupying the square, providing instant compensation to the injured people and households of the martyrs and putting the killers and offender into either of civil or military trials.   
Dr. Emad Gad, deputy manager of the Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said to 'Arabstoday' that the problem with Tantawi was that in person as he acts just as Mubarak used to. "He stalls responding to the people and does the reverse of what he says...as soon as he had finished his statement in which he said that the Armed Forces of Egypt didn’t and won’t attack people, security forces started a fierce attack on Tahrir protestors."
Gad added that Tantawi is majorly responsible for lax security and violence dominating streets all over the country.   
Dr. Emad suggested that the solution may be in Tantawi’s stepping down and replacing him with Anan who is open to all political fronts and "has a good mind and prudent nature in dealing with politics."
Police have been locked in sporadic clashes with protesters demanding the end of military rule.
“We will stay here until the field marshal leaves and a transitional council from the people takes over,” Abdullah Galal, 28, a computer sales manager, told Reuters as people set up tents across the sprawling Tahrir traffic interchange which has become the abiding symbol of this year’s “Arab Spring” revolts.
Meanwhile, five Egyptian and Arab human rights organisations have stated that they will jointly identify and prosecute officials involved in the bloody crackdown.
In a press release, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, Hisham Mubarak Law Centre, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, El-Nadim Centre for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence, and the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said the attacks constituted criminal offences.
The officials the organisations plan on prosecuting include. General Hasan al-Ruwaini, commander of the central command and considered the third most powerful figure in Scaf, and General Hamdy Badeen, head of the military police.
Egyptian news portal Ahram Online reported earlier that several Egyptian political parties are reported to be considering calling for the elections to be delayed for a fortnight.
"According to the sources, such a proposal would imply putting off the first stage of the elections, in which polling was due to be held in 9 governorates, including Cairo and Alexandria, where Egypt's re-launched revolution is at its most powerful." said the report.
Wednesday's street battles were centreed around the heavily fortified Interior Ministry, near the square which is now synonymous with the Egyptian Revolution.
Tens of thousands of protesters massed in Tahrir Square on Tuesday to demand a transition to civilian rule.
Egypt’s army chief, seeking to defuse street protests, promised a swifter handover to civilian rule but failed to convince thousands of hardcore demonstrators, some of whom battled police through the night.
Confirming Egypt’s first free parliamentary election in decades will start on Monday, the ruling military council also accepted the resignation of the civilian prime minister and his cabinet, who had incensed democrats with a short-lived proposal that the army remain beyond civilian control under any new constitution.
Parliamentary elections will take till January to complete. It is not clear how a referendum on military rule might be organised, nor what alternative might be proposed until June’s presidential vote.
But Tantawi angered many of the youthful demonstrators on Cairo’s Tahrir Square and in other cities by suggesting a referendum on whether military rule should end earlier - a move many saw as a ploy to appeal to the many Egyptians who fear further upheaval and to divide those from the young activists.
Tantawi, 76 and defence minister under Mubarak for two decades, appeared hesitant, speaking in field uniform, as he told the 80 million Egyptians his army did not want power:
“The army is ready to go back to barracks immediately if the people wish that through a popular referendum, if need be.”
Many of the protesters saw the suggestion of a referendum, vague in its content, as a ploy to split the nation:
“He is trying to say that, despite all these people in Tahrir, they don’t represent the public,” said 32-year-old Rasha, one of dozens huddled around a radio in the nearby Cafe Riche, a venerable Cairo landmark. “He wants to pull the rug from under them and take it to a public referendum.”
A military source said Tantawi’s referendum offer would come into play “if the people reject the field marshal’s speech,” but did not explain how the popular mood would be assessed.
“We can’t trust what he says. The ball has been in the military council’s court for months, and they didn’'t do anything," Ibtisam al-Hamalawy, 50, told AFP.
"Tantawi is Mubarak, copy pasted. He’s Mubarak in a military uniform,” said Ahmed Mamduh, an accountant.
For many Egyptians, trapped in a daily battle to feed themselves and their families, the political demands of some of those they view as young idealists are hard to fathom:
“I have lost track of what the demands are,” said Mohammed Sayed, 32, a store clerk in central Cairo as the capital went about its normal business before the start of what protesters had hoped might be a “million man march” on Tuesday.
“If you talk to the people in Tahrir, they have no clue,” added Sayed. “I don’t know where the country is headed. I’m worried about my life.”
Criticism of the military has grown in recent days. Amnesty International said the SCAF had "been responsible for a catalogue of abuses which in some cases exceeds the record of Hosni Mubarak".
In the report published on Tuesday, the UK-based human-rights watchdog said Egypt's military rulers had "completely failed to live up their promises to Egyptians to improve human rights".
The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s best-organised political force, joined the talks, which also included presidential hopeful and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa and the head of the liberal Wafd party Sayyed Badawi.
Several politicians, including ElBaradei, have urged the military to review its plans for the transfer of power to civilians, by organising a presidential election before the parliamentary polls due to begin next Monday and last several months.
The Muslim Brotherhood, although highly critical of the military rulers, opposes any postponement of the legislative vote, feeling it is in a strong position.
In a statement, the group said it did not want to be involved in a protest that could delay the impending vote for the lower house of parliament, scheduled for Monday.
Many Egyptians and outside analysts believe the Brotherhood's political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party, will win a large plurality, if not a majority.