As the Egyptian protest enters its ninth day in Cairo the organizers have announced an indefinite general strike and called for a march of a million in the Egyptian capital on Tuesday.

So far the Egyptian uprising has resulted in more than 12 deaths, due to escalating clashes between demonstrators and the police.

In order to keep the momentum of pressure on the Hosni Mubarak regime, another million-strong march was planned in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, as national train services were cancelled in an apparent bid to stymie protests.

Egyptian army

In a statement on Monday, the army said freedom of expression was guaranteed to all citizens using peaceful means.

To the great people of Egypt, your armed forces, acknowledging the legitimate rights of the people, stress that they have not and will not use force against the Egyptian people, said the statement.

It was the first such explicit confirmation by the army that it would not fire at demonstrators who have taken to the streets of Egypt and comes a day before Tuesday's march of millions.

The presence of the army in the streets is for your sake and to ensure your safety and well-being. The armed forces will not resort to use of force against our great people.

Your armed forces, who are aware of the legitimacy of your demands and are keen to assume their responsibility in protecting the nation and the citizens, affirms that freedom of expression through peaceful means is guaranteed to everybody. the army statement said.

In order to quell the uprising, Hosni Mubarak, overhauled his government on Monday to try to defuse a popular uprising against his 30-year rule but angry protesters rejected the changes and said he must surrender power.

The international community condemned Cairo for its conduct during the last round of parliamentary elections that saw the ruling National Democratic Party of Mubarak sweep the polls. Washington last week, meanwhile, called on Tunisia to listen to the voice of the people and move forward with open elections.

The events in Tunisia are a cornerstone for the rest of the people of the Arab and Islamic world, the Brotherhood said in a statement posted on its website. It is a message to all the despotic leaders and the corrupt regimes that they are not safe and they are living on the tip of a volcano of people's anger and God's wrath.

The group also urged Egypt's government to fight graft and put corrupt officials on trial, and warned that if it does not move fast and shoulder responsibility to start a serious reform process, stability might not last for long.

The Muslim Brotherhood also called in its statement last week for an end to Egypt's 30-year-old emergency law that bans political rallies. It also demanded sweeping constitutional amendments to allow free and fair presidential elections.

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