Egyptians demand free election

Thousand kneel to pray in Tahrir Square.

The epicentre of the uprising that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak is still the focal point of demonstrations now aimed squarely at the military council who assumed his powers.

The presidential elections, due to be held in late May, mark the last step in a messy transition to democracy.

The junta say they will hand over power to the new president, but many are convinced the ruling generals are trying to manipulate the outcome.

Clashes earlier in the week at a Defence Ministry sit-in killed 11 people and deepened suspicion that the old regime is trying to derail democracy.

This man says it would have been easy for the army to stop the bloodshed.

He supports the Muslim Brotherhood which dominates parliament, but saw its first choice in the election disqualified.

Tension between the interim government and parliament has left Egypt in a state of policy paralysis that has deepened the current economic crisis.

Lily Grimes, Reuters