Cairo, Egypt - Egypt's interim ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has reassured it will not extend the political transition period, in a move aimed at appeasing citizens who are protesting what they perceived as a delay in the transition programme. According to the country's official news agency, MENA, the SCAF on Sunday vowed to implement the road map it previously announced for a handover to a civilian administration via free and fair elections.
SCAF said the first phase of the legislative elections will start as scheduled on 28 Nov., regardless of current developments.

Meanwhile, the interim government has said the latest violent incidents in the country could obstruct the path of democratic transition in Egypt, accusing protesters of seeking to create a chaotic atmosphere that could derail the first elections in the post January 25 revolution era in Egypt.

While the government stressed it will continue to respect the right of citizens to hold peaceful demonstrations, it asked anti-regime protesters to go home and let their voices be heard in the forthcoming legislative elections.

Three days of confrontations between anti-regime protesters and police forces in Egypt left 10 people dead and over 1,700 injured, according to the latest figures issued by the Egyptian health ministry.

Political powers and revolutionary forces have accused the police of using excessive force in the face of 'mostly peaceful' protesters, but the police insist it exercised restraint in dispersing the protesters.

The demonstrations that started Friday marked the biggest anti-military council protest in Egypt's post-revolution era.

Leaders of the influential Muslim Brotherhood, along with Salafi top figures and those of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamyiah, had told their followers to leave Tahrir Square, saying their message to the authorities has been delivered through the Friday protest march.

However, youths belonging to the Islamist groups and followers of several non-Islamic groups insisted on proceeding with a Tahrir sit-in until all their demands are met, leading to more clashes with the police.

Pana 21/11/2011