Egypt PM Shafiq resigns amid pressure

03 March, 2011 12:46

Egypt interim Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq has resigned, following weeks of anti-government protests demanding that the government be purged of all remnants of ousted President Hosni Mubarak’s regime.

“The Supreme Council of Military Forces announces that it has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq,” Egypt’s ruling Â military council said, without elaborating on the reasons for the move, Shiite News reported .

He will be replaced by former Transport Minister Essam Sharaf, the council added.

Shafiq was in charge of the North African country after embattled Mubarak resigned on February 11 following nationwide anti-government protests.

Egyptian opposition activists had called for another million-man march this Friday to pressure Shafiq to step down.

Thousands of Egyptians protested in capital Cairo after last week’s Friday prayers, demanding the resignation of key figures of the former regime.

Since Mubarak’s ouster, Egyptians have called on the ruling military to hand over power to a civilian government elected by the people.

Activists have also called for the release of political prisoners, the lifting of a 30-year-old state of emergency and the disbandment of military court.

The popular revolution in Egypt has concerned the US and Israel, whose unshakeable support for Mubarak’s regime was always taken for granted and with the rise of Islamic groups in Egypt see their interests at stake