CAIRO On the first day of a new era in Egypt following the departure of President Hosni Mubarak in a popular revolution, the countrys military caretakers pledged Saturday to pave the way to democratic elections and to uphold all international treaties.
But the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces did not offer a timetable for elections, saying only that it would guarantee the peaceful transition of power in the framework of a free, democratic system which allows an elected civilian power to govern the country.
Seeking to reassure Egyptians and a watchful international community, the armys televised statement gave a nod to the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace accord, a focal point of concern for Israel, the United States and other Western powers following the change of regime in their staunchest Arab ally.
The army, Egypts most respected public institution, won praise from many Egyptians, as well as the Obama administration, for remaining generally neutral during the nearly three weeks of anti-Mubarak protests.
But it is led by figures with close ties to the ousted regime, including Defense Minister Mohamed Tantawi, and has been accused by human rights groups of arbitrarily detaining and abusing demonstrators and their supporters.
On the face of it, the elderly generals are no reformers, and their move to push out Mubarak may have been more to ensure the survival of a ruling system the military has been intertwined with since a 1952 army coup. The secretive military has substantial economic interests, running industries and businesses that it will likely seek to preserve.
Also, members of Mubaraks National Democratic Party still dominate ministries, parliament, state industries and other bodies.
Protest organizers urged the army to establish a timetable for the return to civilian rule.
We dont need the military to be a transitional government, said Israa Rashed, a member of the April 6 youth movement. We just want this government for a very short time. We need a schedule.
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