CAIRO — Egypt's military leaders dissolved(溶解，结束) parliament(议会) and suspended(暂停) the constitution(组织，任命，章程) Sunday, meeting two key demands of protesters who have been keeping up pressure for immediate steps to transition to democratic, civilian(平民的) rule after forcing Hosni Mubarak out of power.
The military rulers that took over(接管) when Mubarak stepped down(下台) Friday and the caretaker government(过渡时期的政府) also set as a top priority(最优先考虑的事) the restoration(重建) of security, which collapsed during the 18 days of protests that toppled(推翻) the regime(政权).
The protesters had been pressing the ruling military council to immediately move forward with the transition process by appointing(任命) a presidential council, dissolving the parliament and releasing detainees(被拘留者).
Egypt's military also moved Sunday to restore order in Cairo after weeks of mass demonstrations, but troops faced some resistance as they tried to dismantle the protest camp at the heart of the movement that toppled Mubarak.
"We do not want any protesters to sit in the square after today," Mohamed Ibrahim Moustafa Ali, the head of military police, told protesters Sunday. Soldiers and military police took down the makeshift(临时代用品) tents of protesters who had camped out in Tahrir, or Liberation, Square, but scuffles broke out with some young men who refused to leave.
"The army is the backbone(脊柱，支柱) of Egypt. Their solution is not to remove us from the square," said a protester over loudspeakers, as the army moved in, pushing and occasionally lashing out(猛击) with sticks. "They must respond to our demands."
Many local residents also shouted at the protesters that it was time to go. "Haven't they got what they want? Can someone explain to me what is left of their demands?" asked one bystander(旁观者).
Thousands of protesters streamed(像溪水般流动) back into Tahrir Square after the army sought to disperse(遣散) them, witnesses said.