Analysts: Egyptian civil unrest to escalate despite military's efforts

Analysts: Egyptian civil unrest to escalate despite military's efforts

The showdown between Egyptian street demonstrators and the military-led government will likely escalate in the countdown to next week's parliamentary elections despite the military council's pledge Tuesday to speed up the transition to civilian rule, analysts said.

The impasse bears upon how angry protesters -- gathered once again in Cairo's Tahrir Square as they were during the revolution earlier this year -- are demanding that the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) withdraw immediately from power, analysts said.

At stake is the military's longtime role in Egyptian society -- controlling swaths of the economy from agriculture to bottled water to silverware production -- as well as the integrity of next Monday's first parliamentary elections since the February revolution, analysts said.

On Tuesday, the military council accepted the resignations of the country's cabinet in the wake of protesters' demand for change. The council also said presidential elections will be held by June. more