Call for million-strong Egypt march

A coalition of Egyptian opposition groups has called for a million people to take to Cairo’s streets to urge President Hosni Mubarak to stand down.

World leaders including US President Barack Obama were also increasing pressure for an orderly transition to a democratic system.

The coalition of groups, including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, said it wants the march to take place on Tuesday from Tahrir Square (Liberation Square) to force Mr Mubarak to step down by Friday.

The group also called for a general strike, although much of Cairo remained shut down with government officers and private businesses closed.

Meanwhile, Mr Mubarak has sworn in a new cabinet, replacing one dissolved as a concession to unprecedented anti-government protests.

In the most significant change, interior minister Habib el-Adly – who headed internal security forces – was replaced.

Retired police general Mahmoud Wagdi was named to replace Mr el-Adly, who was widely despised by protesters for what they claimed was brutality shown by security forces.

Despite the changes, the new cabinet is unlikely to satisfy the tens of thousands of protesters who have taken to the streets in cities across Egypt demanding the end of Mr Mubarak presidency and his entire regime.

The new line-up of cabinet ministers announced on state television included stalwarts of Mr Mubarak’s regime but purged several of the prominent businessmen who held economic posts and have engineered the country’s economic liberalisation policies.