Tantawi promises military will be out of power soon

Egypt's military council has accepted the resignation of the current cabinet, assigned it a caretaker role and promises to hold presidential elections by the end of June 2012, said Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi.

"The armed forces do not aspire to govern and put the supreme interest of the country above all considerations", Tantawi said.
 
Egypt's ruling military council has agreed to form national salvation government and will stage presidential elections before July, bowing to demands by protesters for a swifter transfer of power, politicians who met the army said on Tuesday.

Abou Elela Mady, the head of the Wasat Party, was quoting as telling Al Jazeera that the presidential election would be held before July. Under the previous army timetable, the vote may not have happened until late 2012 or early 2013.  

He also said the army had agreed to form "within days" a national salvation government, which protesters have demanded to steer the country through the transition to civilian rule. Another politician at the talks confirmed the details to Reuters.

- Reuters