Egypt delays reopening stock exchange

Scuffles had broken out yesterday between the soldiers and some of the protesters as the Army tried to clear the Square to enable normal traffic movement.

Some protesters said they wanted more concrete steps to be taken before they withdraw their demonstration completely. But later in day, the military dissolved the parliament and suspended the constitution, meeting two major demands of the protesters.

The council said it would be in charge of the government for six months or until parliamentary elections are held to decide the next government.
Some protest organisers have called for a "Victory March" to be held across the country on Friday.

Former president Mubarak handed over power to the military last week forced by an unprecedented mass movement that shook not only Egypt but the entire Arab world.

The military has promised to oversee a peaceful transition to democracy and has set a September date for general elections. Meanwhile, the media apparatus that was loyal to the Mubarak regime and glorified his 30-year rule has now indicated that it will be more attentive to the Egyptian people.

Ever since Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that the 82-year-old president was stepping down, there was a drastic change in the tone of the state media.

The employees of once pro-regime Al-Ahram daily formed an emergency council to revamp the paper's coverage and its headline of the next day read, "The people ousted the regime."

For the first time since uprising, coverage of Al-Ahram provoked positive comments on facebook for its objectivity and fluent proper language instead of the usual cynicism preserved for its commentaries and lies.

Two days after the president stepped down, the state TV started referring him as Mubarak and not former president. It also featured the investigations of origin of wealth of former ministers who were at the same time practicing businessmen.