Appointed Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri asked Egyptians to “give me a chance” that tens of thousands protest in Cairo against the military junta.

In his first public comments since his appointment, said he would not appoint a new government before the elections on Monday.

The demonstrators in downtown Cairo, Tahrir Square want elections postponed.

Nearby, a small counter-demonstration was organized to support the military and the elections.

More than 40 people were killed earlier this week when security forces tried to break the mass protests that lead to the worst violence since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in February.

However, the BBC’s Lyse Doucet in Tahrir Square, said a truce seems to have ended the fighting and a carnival atmosphere back to the demonstration on Friday.

People came out of the fireworks and shouting “Down with the military regime,” he said.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) oversees the transition to civilian rule.

Despite the promises of the Council to expedite the process, some fear the protesters intend to cling to power. They want to end military rule until elections are held.

Yet, many Egyptians want to go to the polls as expected. One of the influential group, the Muslim Brotherhood – which is expected to do well in the vote – does not support the protests Tahrir Square.

At least 10,000 people held a rally Friday in rival Abbasiya Square – near the Defense Ministry, north of Tahrir Square – to show support for the electoral calendar in the army

They shouted “Down Tahrir” and “Yes to the military council.”

Washington said that power in Egypt would be transferred to civilians “as soon as possible.”

“The United States strongly believes that the new Egyptian government has the power to immediately correct the agency,” a White House statement said.

Highest authority of Sunni Islam, the grand imam of Cairo Al-Azhar mosque, the demonstrators in Tahrir Square will be sent a message of support rare. Aide, Hassan Shafie, shown in local television said that the crowd is in Tahrir Square: “The Grand Imam backs on you and pray for your victory.”

There were also anti-military protests in Alexandria and the southern cities of Luxor and Assiut, according to AP news agency.

“Not trying to get Tantawi”

In Cairo, said hundreds of protesters camped outside the prime minister that they would prevent Mr. Ganzouri team to enter.

The prime minister-designate said he was sure Scaf Mohamed Hussein Tantawi leader Marshal had no desire to stay in power, saying that otherwise would not have agreed to lead the new government.

“Give me a chance for me to think, and I can see who should stay and who should go and table my proposal to the Military Council, Marshal Tantawi,” he said in comments broadcast on state television .

Mr. Ganzouri, prompting the government of Egypt from 1996 to 1999 by Mr. Mubarak said he had granted more power than their predecessors, but had not yet begun to gather his ministerial team despite that forms in the next few days.

Until then, he said former Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, who resigned after the violence earlier this week, would remain in office.

The demonstrations in Tahrir Square, which were supported by some unions, had been called a “last chance Friday” rally to demand the immediate transfer of power by the military.

Many of the protesters have rejected the appointment of Mr. Ganzouri.

“For the second time, which depends on the old guard of the Mubarak regime. Why not give us the opportunity to young people, rather than those with 80 years of age?” a man in Cairo, Tahrir Square, Suhir Nadim, told Reuters.

Field Marshal Tantawi on Tuesday approved the resignation of the previous military-backed civilian cabinet and declared that the presidential elections to be held in June 2012 – six months ahead of schedule.

Military Council apologized for the deaths of protesters, but insisted that the Parliamentary Polls will start on Monday as expected.

Much of the recent violence has occurred, Mohammed Mahmoud, a road leading to Tahrir Square in the Ministry of Interior. The soldiers are now set up barricades of concrete, metal bars and barbed wire separate the protesters and security forces.

Mr. Ganzouri, which has distanced itself from the Mubarak regime has been proposed as a candidate for president.

His prime minister during the period was known as “minister bad” because it was seen as representing the disadvantaged, and he remains popular in many of the Egyptians, says Yolande Knell BBC in Cairo.

Monday marks the first step of an electoral calendar that will last until March 2012 and covers both houses of parliament.

Elections take place in stages throughout the country – and each step has reportedly extended to two days.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15900768