Egypt's army to replace governors

10 April 2011 Last updated at 07:06 GMT Protesters remained in Tahrir Square despite an army threat to use force to remove them Egypt's interim military government has said it will remove some provincial governors appointed by former President Hosni Mubarak.

The move is an apparent concession to protesters who want Mr Mubarak and his allies tried for corruption.

It follows an army move on protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Saturday in which at least one person was killed.

The military has said it will use force to clear the square "to ensure life goes back to normal" in Egypt.

Dozens of people were also injured in the violence in Tahrir Square early on Saturday as the army tried to enforce an overnight curfew.

They suffered gunshot wounds but the army denies using live rounds.

The violence came after hundreds of thousands of people protested in Tahrir Square on Friday, demanding the prosecution of Mr Mubarak for corruption.

More protesters returned to the square later on Saturday and remained overnight.

On Sunday morning a few hundred protesters were in the square, which was sealed off with barbed wire and closed to the usually busy traffic of the beginning of Egypt's work week.

Army threat

Tensions have been growing between the military, who took control after Mr Mubarak's downfall in February, and protesters calling for speedier reforms.

Divisions have also emerged within the protest movement that forced Mr Mubarak's resignation, says the BBC's Yolande Knell in Cairo.

Some are calling for the resignation of the head of the ruling military council, Field Marshal Mohamad Hussein Tantawi, who is Egypt's interim ruler.

He was defence minister under Mr Mubarak and was very close to the former president.

Others in the protest movement fear further antagonism with the military will cause more problems for Egypt ahead of elections and a transition to civilian rule planned for later in the year, our correspondent says.

The military's move to replace a number of Mubarak-appointed provincial governors was one of the demands of protesters.

Many among the protest movement believe the military figures now overseeing political transition are protecting Mr Mubarak and his allies.

On Saturday, a general said the army was "ready" to use force to clear the square and allow normal life to resume.

"Tahrir Square will be emptied of protesters with firmness and force to ensure life goes back to normal," Major General Adel Emarah, of the military council, told a news conference.

The army had maintained a generally neutral role in the earlier mass demonstrations.

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Egypt's Mubarak refuses to quit

10 February 2011 Last updated at 21:41 GMT Mubarak addressed his remarks to the "youth of Egypt in Tahrir Square" Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak has said he will stay in office and transfer all power only after September's presidential election.

His comments in a national TV address confounded earlier reports that he was preparing to stand down immediately.

Mr Mubarak said he would delegate some powers to Vice-President Omar Suleiman, but would ignore "diktats from abroad".

Thousands of anti-government protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square reacted angrily to his announcement.

Mr Mubarak had already pledged not to stand in September's poll.

"I express a commitment to carry on and protect the constitution and the people and transfer power to whomever is elected next September in free and transparent elections," Mr Mubarak said.

Directly addressing protesters "in Tahrir Square and beyond" in what he said was "a speech from the heart", Mr Mubarak, 82, said: "I am not embarrassed to listen to the youth of my country and to respond to them."

Continue reading the main story Paul Adams BBC News, Tahrir Square, Cairo

The mood in Tahrir Square has changed dramatically in the wake of President Mubarak's televised address.

There is an angry deafening roar rising from the crowd with numerous chants calling for an end to the regime and "revolution 'til we die".

It seems fairly clear from the reaction of the crowd that they are not satisfied with the concessions announced by President Mubarak.

The mood contrasts dramatically with the celebratory, almost party atmosphere that existed in the hours running up to his statement on television.

He apologised to the families of protesters killed in clashes with the security forces in recent weeks, and said those responsible for their deaths would be punished.

He added that the country's emergency laws would only be lifted when conditions were right.

He also appeared to call for the end of protests against his 30-year rule that began on 25 January.

"Egypt has gone through difficult times and we cannot allow it to carry on," he said.

"The damage to our economy will lead to a situation that the youth calling for reform will be the first to be affected."

Mr Suleiman, speaking after Mr Mubarak's address, said the protests had had an effect, and a process of constitutional change would now go ahead.

Egypt's military had earlier said it was standing ready to "protect the nation". State news agency Mena reported that the high council of the armed forces was in continuous session "to protect the nation, its gains and the aspirations of the people".

Negotiations between the government and opposition groups have made little progress, with protesters disillusioned at plans for reform put forward by Mr Mubarak's government.

The US government had in recent days stepped up its call for the protesters' concerns to be addressed.

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