Egypt cabinet resigns as deadly clashes rock Tahrir

 CAIRO: Egypt's cabinet said on Monday it had resigned amid deadly clashes in Tahrir Square between police and protesters demanding political change, and the ruling military called for crisis talks.

"The government of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has handed its resignation to the (ruling) Supreme Council of the Armed Forces," cabinet spokesman Mohammed Hegazy said in a statement.

State television quoted a military source as saying the ruling military council had rejected the resignation, but Information Minister Osama Heikal told the official MENA news agency the matter had not yet been decided.

Sharaf's resignation, if accepted, threatens to derail parliamentary elections scheduled for November 28 - the first polls since president Hosni Mubarak was toppled in February.

Tens of thousands of people packed Tahrir Square on Monday night, after clashes continued for a third straight day between protesters and police in and around the square.

They greeted news of the cabinet's resignation with indifference, calling for the removal of the military rulers as clashes continued around the nearby interior ministry headquarters.

Riot police fired volleys of birdshot, rubber bullets and tear gas at the persistent demonstrators, who used stones and petrol bombs. Other protesters formed a corrider through which the injured were ferried into waiting ambulances.

The United States said it was "deeply concerned" by the violence which has left at least 24 people nationwide dead since Saturday.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said it was important that US ally Egypt move toward democratic elections.

US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland echoed the White House call for "free, fair elections," and expressed the hope the electoral process would remain on schedule.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon called on the military council to "guarantee" civil liberties as he deplored the deaths in the clashes.

Political forces behind the uprising have called for a mass rally on Tuesday to demand that the army cede power to civilian rule.

Posted in: Africa