CAIRO: The Egyptian army threw its weight behind President Hosni Mubarak on Friday while trying to reassure anti-regime protesters that it will ensure he follows through with democratic reforms.
Egyptian state television interrupted programming to read out "communique number two" by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, headed by Defence Minister Hussein Tantawi.
The army said it would guarantee free and fair elections and vowed to lift the much-criticised emergency law, without specifying a date.
But it also asked protesters -- who for 18 straight days have been calling for Mubark to immediately stand down after three decades in power to go home and get back to work.
The council said it had agreed to "lift the emergency law as soon as the current circumstances are over" and "to hold free and fair presidential elections based on constitutional amendments."
The army said it was committed to "safeguarding the legitimate demands of the people and will work to implement them ... for a peaceful transition of power and a free democratic society."
The communiqué stressed it would not arrest those calling for reform, but warned against any "harm to the safety and security of the nation."
The army also urged government workers to go back to work, after a series of wildcat strikes on Wednesday and Thursday.
Mass nationwide protests calling for Mubarak to step down erupted on January 25, leaving at least 300 people dead and scores more injured.
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