CAIRO - Soldiers evicted demonstrators from parts of Tahrir Square on Sunday as they tried to restore a measure of normalcy to the Egyptian capital. But tensions flared elsewhere as police and civil servants took advantage of the country's revolutionary tumult to press their own demands for change. 
 
 Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq presided over the Egyptian government's first cabinet meeting since President Hosni Mubarak's abrupt resignation Friday. "Our concern now in the cabinet is security, to bring security back to the Egyptian citizen," he said at a press conference. 
 
 The Egyptian military has been in control of the country since Mubarak's departure. But military chiefs have ordered the civilian government to remain in place in a caretaker role until a new government is formed. 
 
 As daylight broke, soldiers dismantled tents from the makeshift camps that have occupied Tahrir Square since Jan. 25, when protests erupted in Cairo. Some weary demonstrators evacuated voluntarily. Others stood their ground or scuffled with soldiers, though both sides generally refrained from brute force. 
 
 By mid-morning, the military had re-opened the square to traffic for the first time in three weeks. But an uneasy mood persisted. A few thousand protesters flocked back to the square as the day unfolded, saying they were not ready to give up. 
 
 "We want to stay here until they fulfill our demands," said Mahmoud Sharif, 27, who had 10 days and nights in Tahrir. 
 
 Meanwhile, pockets of disorder erupted elsewhere. An aggressive crowd of several hundred police officers - who have largely been on strike or absent from the streets for the past 10 days - marched through the streets to demand pay raises and other benefits. 
 
 Many Egyptians harbor deep suspicions about the police, who roughly tried to suppress anti-Mubarak protests in the days prior to his resignation. In contrast, Egyptians have expressed gratitude to the armed forces for standing by and not interfering with the revolution. 
 
 The police demonstrators, clad mostly in black leather jackets, swept past a handful of military checkpoints to reach Tahrir Square. There, they stood nose-to-nose with pro-democracy protesters, who seemed skeptical of their intentions. 
 
 Chanting, "The police and the people are one," the officers avoided a confrontation and marched a few blocks to the Egyptian Interior Ministry building, where they were finally halted by an army barricade and a three-star general standing athwart a tank. 
 
 The police, who report to the ministry, laid out demands for better pay and health care. But they also seemed intent on trying to repair their public image as pro-Mubarak bullies. "We are not thieves," they chanted. 
 
 "We have been accused of running away from the city [during the revolution], but we didn't run away," said Mohammed Said, a 15-year veteran of the Cairo police force. He said he earned only 500 Egyptian pounds a month, or about $85, and wanted more. ||||| CAIRO — As a new era dawned in Egypt on Saturday, the army leadership sought to reassure Egyptians and the world that it would shepherd a transition to civilian rule and honor international commitments like the peace treaty with Israel. 
 
 Exultant and exhausted opposition leaders claimed their role in the country’s future, pressing the army to lift the country’s emergency law and release political prisoners and saying they would present their vision for the government. And they vowed to return to Tahrir Square next week to celebrate a victory and honor those who had died in the 18-day uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak after nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule. 
 
 In an announcement broadcast on state television, an army spokesman said Egypt would continue to abide by all its international and regional treaties and the current civilian leadership would manage the country’s affairs until the formation of a new government. But he did not discuss a timetable for any transfer of power, and it was unclear how and when talks with opposition figures would take place. 
 
 The army spokesman said the military was “aspiring to guarantee the peaceful transition of power within the framework of a free democratic system that allows an elected civilian power to rule the country, in order to build a free democratic state.” 
 
 The impact of Egypt’s uprising rippled across the Arab world as protesters turned out in Algeria, where the police arrested leading organizers, and in Yemen, where pro-government forces beat demonstrators with clubs. 
 
 The Palestinian leadership responded by announcing that it planned to hold presidential and parliamentary elections by September. And in Tunisia, which inspired Egypt’s uprising, hundreds demonstrated to cheer Mr. Mubarak’s ouster. 
 
 Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will travel to Jordan and Israel for talks as both countries deal with the reverberations from Egypt’s revolution. 
 
 In Tahrir, or Liberation, Square, some members of the broad movement that toppled Mr. Mubarak vowed to continue their protests, saying that all their demands had not yet been met. 
 
 A long list included an end to the emergency law that allows detention without charges, the dissolution of the Parliament, seen as illegitimate, and for some of the protesters, the prosecution of Mr. Mubarak. About 50 stood in the square on Saturday morning, as the military removed barricades and concertina wire on the periphery. 
 
 But the uprising’s leading organizers, speaking at a news conference in central Cairo, asked protesters to leave the square. 
 
 The group, the Coalition of the Youth of the Revolution, which includes members of the April 6 Youth Movement, the Muslim Brotherhood Youth and young supporters of Mohamed ElBaradei, a prominent opposition figure, said that it had not yet talked with the military and that on Sunday it would lay out its road map for a transitional government. 
 
 The coalition said that Ahmed Zewail, a Nobel laureate in chemistry, and other respected figures would work as intermediaries between the youth group and the country’s new military chiefs. 
 
 “The power of the people changed the regime,” said Gehan Shaaban, a group spokeswoman. “But we shouldn’t trust the army. We should trust ourselves, the people of Egypt.” 
 
 Again, there were signs that not all the protesters were willing to give up. During the news conference, a woman yelled: “We should all head to Tahrir and stay there, until we ourselves are sure that everything is going as planned! The government of Ahmed Shafiq has to go!” Mr. Shafiq is the prime minister. The woman’s shouts brought the news conference to a close. 
 
 As the protesters and opposition groups prepared an agenda, they sought clues about exactly whom they were negotiating with. On Friday, Vice President Omar Suleiman said that Mr. Mubarak had authorized the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to manage the state’s affairs, marking the transition from civilian to military rule. 
 
 Mr. Suleiman, a former general who became Egypt’s foreign intelligence chief, straddled the two worlds. But Hosam Sowilam, a retired general, said Mr. Suleiman no longer played a leadership role. “Omar Suleiman finished his time,” he said. “He’s 74 years old.” Others were not so quick to dismiss Mr. Suleiman, a close ally of Mr. Mubarak who was mentioned as his successor. 
 
 In interviews, protest leaders said they assumed that the defense minister, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, 75, who was considered a loyalist of Mr. Mubarak, was now the country’s de facto leader. On Saturday morning, his convoy tried to drive to Tahrir Square, according to a paratrooper stationed there. But he did not leave his car. ||||| The main coalition of youth and opposition groups says it will end its protest in a central Cairo square after they succeeded in ousting longtime authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak. But the groups say they will call for weekly demonstrations to maintain pressure on the ruling military to implement democratic reforms. 
 
 Young anti-government demonstrators sit in destroyed vehicle, on a street near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Egypt exploded with joy, tears, and relief after pro-democracy protesters... (Associated Press) 
 
 Egyptians pose for family photo in front of an army armored vehicle at Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Egypt exploded with joy, tears, and relief after pro-democracy protesters... (Associated Press) 
 
 An Egyptian woman offers candies to army soldiers on armored vehicles in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Egyptian protesters were jubilant Saturday over their success in ousting President Hosni... (Associated Press) 
 
 Egyptians return blankets that were donated by an Islamic charity as they break down their makeshift camps in Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt , Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Cries of "Egypt is free"... (Associated Press) 
 
 An Egyptian reads a newspaper in Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt , Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Cries of "Egypt is free" rang out and fireworks lit up the sky as hundreds of thousands danced, wept... (Associated Press) 
 
 An Egyptian woman cleans a street near to Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt , Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Cries of "Egypt is free" rang out and fireworks lit up the sky as hundreds of thousands danced,... (Associated Press) 
 
 An Egyptian woman presents white flowers to Egyptian army soldiers in Tahrir Square, in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Egyptian protesters were jubilant Saturday over their success in... (Associated Press) 
 
 Egyptians pray next to tanks and armored personnel carriers outside the Egyptian Museum near Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Egyptian protesters were jubilant Saturday... (Associated Press) 
 
 Egyptians pray next army armored vehicles outside the Egyptian Museum near Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Egyptian protesters were jubilant Saturday over their success... (Associated Press) 
 
 Egyptians dance and wave national flags in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Egypt exploded with joy, tears, and relief after pro-democracy protesters brought down President Hosni... (Associated Press) 
 
 Egyptian volunteers start laying back some of the numerous paving stones that were used during clashes on the street outside the Egyptian Museum near Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Saturday,... (Associated Press) 
 
 Egyptians salute in front of images of "martyrs of the country's protests" at Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Egyptian protesters were jubilant Saturday over their success in... (Associated Press) 
 
 A handful of protesters display placards in front of the People Power monument at suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines Saturday Feb. 12, 2011 to express their support to the Egyptians... (Associated Press) 
 
 An Egyptian woman walks with her baby in front of a burnt out vehicle that was being taken away near Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt , Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Cries of "Egypt is free" rang out... (Associated Press) 
 
 Egyptians clean up garbage and rocks from a street near Tahrir Square, as people watch from a bridge beyond, in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Egyptian protesters were jubilant Saturday... (Associated Press) 
 
 Egyptians dance and wave national flags in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Egypt exploded with joy, tears, and relief after pro-democracy protesters brought down President Hosni... (Associated Press) 
 
 An Egyptian flag is seen in the hands of a statue of The Martyr General Abdel-Moneim Riad, one of the leaders of Oct. 6, 1973 war against Israel, near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 12,... (Associated Press) 
 
 An Egyptian soldier sweeps the street after moving an armored vehicle in Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt , Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Cries of "Egypt is free" rang out and fireworks lit up the sky... (Associated Press) 
 
 Egyptian Army soldiers remove with the help of a crane a destroyed truck used by anti-government protest as a barricade in one of the street leading to Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt , Saturday,... (Associated Press) 
 
 Egyptians remove barbed wire and stones away from Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Egyptian protesters were jubilant Saturday over their success in ousting President Hosni Mubarak,... (Associated Press) 
 
 The group listed its demands at a press conference Saturday. They want hated emergency laws to be lifted, parliament to be dissolved and a committee to amend the constitution, among others. 
 
 Some protesters not linked to the coalition say they'll stay camped on Tahrir Square, and it's not immediately clear when the downtown area will be cleared. 
 
 THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. 
 
 CAIRO (AP) _ The ruling military pledged Saturday to eventually hand power to an elected civilian government and reassured allies that Egypt will abide by its peace treaty with Israel after the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, as it outlined the first cautious steps in a promised transition to greater democracy. 
 
 The military's statement Saturday had been eagerly awaited by the public and thousands of protesters still massed in Cairo's central Tahrir Square. The crowds were still riding high on jubiliation over the success in removing Mubarak on Friday after 18 days of unprecedented popular protests, but they were looking for a sign of the military's plans. 
 
 Appearing on state TV, a military spokesman said the Armed Forces Supreme Council asked the current government appointed by Mubarak in his final weeks to continue operating until a new one is formed. The step appeared to be a stop-gap measure to keep the state and economy functioning while a transitional administration is set up. 
 
 Protesters have called for dramatic steps to ensure Egypt moves to a real democracy after nearly 30 years of autocratic rule under Mubarak and his ruling party. Protest organizers have called for the dissolving of parliament _ which is almost entirely made up of ruling party lawmakers _ the forming of a new, broad-based transitional government and creation of a committee to either amend the constitution or totally re-write it. 
 
 The Armed Forces Supreme Council, a body of the top-most generals that now rules Egypt, has not said whether it will carry out any of those steps. But Saturday's statement also did not rule it out. 
 
 In the square, some protesters welcomed the cautious first measures, despite distrust of the government put together by Mubarak as a gesture early in the wave of protests. 
 
 "It was a good thing," said Muhammed Ibrahim, a 21-year-old from the Nile Delta town of Banha who joined the crowds in Tahrir. "We don't want there to be a political void." 
 
 The spokesman, Gen. Mohsen el-Fangari, appeared on state TV in front of a row of Egyptian military and national flags and read the council statement, proclaiming respect for the rule of law _ perhaps a sign that the military aims to avoid imposing martial law. 
 
 The military is "looking forward to a peaceful transition, for a free democratic system, to permit an elected civil authority to be in charge of the country, to build a democratic free nation," he said. 
 
 The military underlined Egypt's "commitment to all its international treaties." 
 
 Israel has been deeply concerned that Egypt's turmoil could threaten the 1979 peace accord signed between the two countries. The United States, Egypt's top ally, is also eager to ensure the accord remains in place. The military strongly supports the accord, not in small part because it guarantees U.S. aid for the armed forces, currently running at $1.3 billion a year. 
 
 Anti-Israeli feeling is strong in Egypt, and many of the hundreds of thousands of protesters expressed anger at Mubarak's close cooperation with Israel on a range of issues. Still, few seriously call for the abrogation of the treaty, realizing the international impact. 
 
 The emphasis in the military statement was on keeping the state and economy functioning after the turmoil of the past three weeks, which were a heavy blow to Egypt's economy. For days, many businesses and shops were closed, much of Cairo's population of 18 million stayed home under heavy curfew, and foreign tourists _ one of the top sources of revenues _ fled the country. This week, even as businesses began to reopen on a wide scale, labor strikes erupted around the country, many at state industries or branches of the bureaucracy. 
 
 The military relaxed the curfew _ now to run from midnight to 6 a.m. instead of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. _ and the Stock Market announced plans to reopen on Wednesday. 
 
 The Supreme Council asked the public, particularly the millions in the government sector, to "work to push the economy forward," el-Fangari said, an apparent call for everyone to return to work. 
 
 The military also called on the "current government and provincial governors to continue their activities until a new government is formed," el-Fangari said. The statement did not address when a new government would be formed. ||||| People power has spoken in the biggest Arab nation just four weeks after Tunisians toppled their own ageing ruler. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Egyptians have woken to a new dawn after 30 years of rule under Hosni Mubarak. As the Muslim call to prayer reverberated across Cairo on Saturday, the sound of horns honking in jubilation could still be heard after a night when millions celebrated the fall of the president, who has handed over power to the military. After 18 days of rallies at Cairo's Tahrir Square, resisting police assaults and a last-ditch raid by Mubarak supporters, people packed not just the epicentre but, it seemed, every street and neighbourhood of the capital. Similar was the scene in other cities and towns across the country. Fireworks lit the night sky, cars honked under swathes of red, white and black Egyptian flags and people hoisted children above their heads. Some took souvenir pictures with smiling soldiers atop their tanks on city streets. Everyone cried, laughed and embraced in the hope of a new era. Al Jazeera’s Jacky Rowland, reporting from Cairo, said that in the coming days people will have some concerns. "The obvious thing that is going to be concerning many people is to have some kind of a clear roadmap for the progress towards democratic elections," she said. "After all this was a revolution not only to overthrow President Mubarak, but also to remove the whole system and install it with one where people would have freedom of choice with [regards to who] who runs the country." The country's new military leaders sought to allay some of those concerns with an announcement on state television on Saturday, in which they promised to hand power to an elected, civilian government. They also pledged to respect all international treaties - an apparent nod to the country's 1979 peace treaty with Israel. State television also reported that the curfew in the country has been shortened and are now in effect from midnight to 6 am. But some protesters vowed to remain in Tahrir Square until their democratic agenda is implemented. The developments came a day after Omar Suleiman, the vice-president, said on Friday in a televised address that the president was "waiving" his office, and had handed over authority to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Suleiman's 50-word statement was received with a roar of approval and by celebratory chanting and flag-waving from a crowd of hundreds of thousands in Tahrir Square, as well as by other pro-democracy campaigners who were attending protests across the country. IN VIDEO 
 
 Tahrir Square responds to Mubarak's resignation The top figure in Egypt is now Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, the country's defence minister and head of the supreme council. In its third statement to the nation, the council said in a televised address that it was examining the situation "in order to materialise the aspirations of our great nation". The council spokesman said that "resolutions and statements regarding the ... actions to be followed" in order to achieve the demands of the people will be handed down later. He also extended "greetings and appreciation" to Mubarak for his service to the country, and saluted the "martyrs and those who have fallen" during the protests. Nezar al Sayyad, a Middle East specialist, told Al Jazeera that Egypt “is in a very critical stage in terms of what is going to happen next.” “I think it’s extremely important to remember here that although Omar Suleiman made the announcement that Mubarak made the decision to step down, we don’t really know if Mubarak decided to step down or [if] he was forcibly removed by the armed forces and by the supreme council,” Al Sayyad said. He said the next steps taken by Tantawi and other members of the supreme council, will “be extremely important in pushing the country forward”. 'Dream come true' The crowd in Tahrir responded to Suleiman's statement by chanting "we have brought down the regime". Mohamed ElBaradei, a prominent opposition leader, hailed the moment as being "a dream come true". "I can't tell you how every Egyptian feels today," he said. "We have been able to restore our humanity ... to be free and independent". ElBaradei reiterated that Egypt now needs to return to stability and proposed that a transition government be put in place for the next year. Click here for more of Al Jazeera's special coverage The government, he said, would include figures from the army, from the opposition and from other circles. "We need to go on ... our priority is to make sure the country is restored as a socially cohesive, economically vibrant and ... democratic country," he said. Ayman Nour, another opposition figure and a former presidential candidate, told Al Jazeera that he would consider running for the presidency again if there was consensus on his candidacy. He said February 11, 2011 is "the greatest day in Egyptian history". "This nation has been born again. These people have been born again, and this is a new Egypt." Amr Moussa, the secretary-general of the Arab League, said that he would resign from his post, one that he has headed for about 10 years, "within weeks". Some analysts say he may well run for the Egyptian presidency when elections are held. Following Mubarak's announcement, our correspondent in Tahrir Square, said: "Tonight, after all of these weeks of frustration, of violence, of intimidation ... today the people of Egypt undoubtedly [feel they] have been heard, not only by the president, but by people all around the world." 'Explosion of emotion' Our correspondents across the country reported scenes of jubilation and celebration on the streets of major cities. Our online producer in Tahrir Square describes scenes of celebration "The sense of euphoria is simply indescribable," said our correspondent at Mubarak's Heliopolis presidential palace, where at least 10,000 pro-democracy activists had gathered. "I have waited, I have worked all my adult life to see the power of the people come to the fore and show itself. I am speechless," Dina Magdi, a pro-democracy campaigner in Tahrir Square said. "The moment is not only about Mubarak stepping down, it is also about people's power to bring about the change that no-one ... thought possible." In Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city, our correspondent described an "explosion of emotion". He said that hundreds of thousands were celebrating in the streets. 'Farewell Friday' Suleiman's announcement came after hundreds of thousands of Egyptians took the streets for the 18th consecutive day, marching on presidential palaces, state television buildings and other government installations. Thousands of pro-democracy activists took to the streets on Friday in several cities, including Alexandria [AFP] They had dubbed the day 'Farewell Friday', and had called for "millions" to turn out and demand that Mubarak resign. Hundreds of thousands gathered at Tahrir Square, chanting slogans against the government. Similar numbers were also reported from Alexandria, where some protesters marched to a presidential palace there. Protests were also reported from the cities of Mansoura, Mahalla, Suez, Tanta and Ismailia with thousands in attendance. Violence was reported in the north Sinai town of el-Arish, where protesters attempted to storm a police station. At least one person was killed, and 20 wounded in that attack, our correspondent said.
– Egypt coverage is mostly celebratory today—"a new dawn," is the phrase of choice for both al-Jazeera and the Guardian, while the New York Times has it that a "new era dawned"—as attention turns to the what-comes-next question. Along those lines: The main coalition of protest groups says it will leave Tahrir Square after three weeks but called for weekly demonstrations to maintain pressure on the military for promised reform, reports AP. In a televised statement, the military pledged to hand over power to a democratically elected civilian government and to abide by all international treaties. It asked the current government, recently appointed by Hosni Mubarak, to stay in place until a transitional one can be formed. Not all the protesters are leaving, apparently. One tells the Washington Post: "This is a revolution, not a half-revolution. We need a timetable for elections. We need an interim government. We need a committee for a new constitution. Once we get all that, then we can leave the square."