Egypt's military ruler yesterday stressed the army's commitment to democracy, as protesters kept up pressure on the general over the slow pace of reforms since a revolt ousted Hosni Mubarak....The former President-for-Life of Egypt, dumped by popular demand in early 2011...
Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi, the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and Mubarak's longtime defence minister, pledged to work for a free system through fair elections and a constitution.
He vowed to "pave the way for the pillars of a democratic state, which promotes freedom, the rights of citizens through free and fair parliamentary elections, a new constitution and the election of a president chosen by the people."
Tantawi delivered the television address to mark the anniversary of the 1952 revolution -- a military coup that overthrew the monarchy, which came six months after the January 25 uprising that ended Mubarak's 30-year grip on power.
Hours earlier, the military council had accused the April 6 pro-democracy movement of sowing strife after hundreds tried to march to the defence ministry.