Protesters Protesters chant anti-military council slogans on a barricade during a temporary cease-fire with the Egyptian riot police, not pictured, near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Tens of thousands of protesters in Tahrir Square have rejected a promise by Egypt's military ruler to speed up a presidential election to the first half of next year. They want Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi to step down immediately in favor of an interim civilian council. Cairo--EGYPT 24/11/2011 .