Egypt unveils new cabinet & “Million Man March”

A new Egyptian cabinet promised by embattled President Hosni Mubarak was unveiled on Monday, comprising a largely unchanged line-up but without widely hated interior minister Habib al-Adly or any businessmen. State television showed images of the new ministers being sworn in and shaking hands with Mubarak. Adly was replaced by Mahmud Wagdi, a general in Egypt's all-powerful army. Adly's axing was one of the demands of protesters who have for a week demanded the ouster of Mubarak and his regime. They have also called for an end to corruption and oppression. Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit retained his job, as did Defence Minister General Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, according to the decree issued by Mubarak and read out on television. But protesters massed in downtown Cairo insisted they would only be satisfied when Mubarak quits. "We will accept no change other than Mubarak's departure," said one protester who asked not to be named. Protester Rifat Ressat said: "We want a complete change of government, with a civilian authority." The departure of Adly, who controls Egypt's notorious security forces who are accused of systematic human rights violations, was however welcomed. "The interior minister is responsible for all the violence, because it's the police that opened fire on demonstrators," he said. Police have been ordered back on to the streets of Cairo, as tens of thousands of people gather in central Cairo for a seventh day of protest. The demonstrators have called for a general strike on Monday, and are holding prayers in honour of those killed in the unrest. Protesters want President Hosni Mubarak to step down after 30 years in power. The president has ordered his new Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq to push through political reforms. Egyptian state television read out a letter he had sent to Mr Shafiq, in which the president speaks of the need to make progress towards constitutional and legislative reform through a dialogue with political parties. He also calls for economic policies that give the highest concern to people's suffering and bring down unemployment by creating new jobs. All the signs continue to suggest that the only change the protesters will settle for is Mr Mubarak's removal from office. As demonstrations enter their seventh day, there are at least 50,000 people on Tahrir Square in the centre of the city. Elsewhere the streets are busy and things appear to be returning to normal. There are plans for a "protest of the millions" march on Tuesday.  Police were noticeable by their absence so the protests were not marked by the sort of clashes which have left at least 100 people dead since rallies began on Tuesday. Protesters of Egypt have planned a “Million Man March” to the residence of President Hosni Mubarak. Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians throughout the country have demonstrated since last Tuesday, January 25th, with one central goal – the departure of Mubarak, who has led Egypt since 1981. Over 150 protesters have been killed as of Monday afternoon. For the fourth day, protesters have defied the government curfew. Despite President Obama calling for Mubarak to restore internet and cell phone services Friday evening, these services remain disconnected for a majority of the country, which were shut off Thursday night.