Egypt military won't allow "counter-revolution"

Egypt's new military rulers assured the nation on Thursday they would guard against what protesters have called a counter-revolution by associates of Hosni Mubarak, deposed nearly two weeks ago in an 18-day uprising. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said it noted the use of political expressions such as "the counter revolution" and denounced what it said were "attempts to create strife", saying it was taking all steps to meet the people's demands. Protesters have said they fear a "counter revolution" whereby associates of Mubarak seek to creep back to power, perhaps by rebranding the president's now crippled ruling party. They are also concerned by Mubarak-appointed ministers staying in their roles. "There will be no return to the past. The sublime goal now is achieving the hopes and aspirations of the people," the council said in a statement on its Facebook page. Egypt's protest organisers expect a big turnout on Friday in Cairo to demand the removal of a new cabinet in which the key portfolios of defence, justice, interior and foreign affairs were appointed by Mubarak who was ousted nearly two weeks ago. Several youth activists said the protest aims to unify Egyptians in a campaign to have a new government of technocrats appointed that will make a clean break from Mubarak's old guard. In the fragmented political arena of post-revolutionary Egypt, those with wealth, whatever its source, may still be able to win power and influence in elections where voting for decades has been determined by thuggery, bribery and manipulation. "There is anger on the streets towards everything Mubarak, and we loathe to see his followers remain in control," Yahya Saqr, one protester from the Youth of January 25 group.