Thousands marched to Cairo's Tahrir Square to protest against the exclusion of prominent candidates from Egypt's presidential elections. Convinced the country's ruling generals are trying to manipulate the outcome. The vote will offer Egyptians their first chance in five millennia to freely choose their leader, and would mark the last step in a messy transition to democracy since the overthrow of autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak 15 months ago.

Muhamed Ali of the Muslim Brotherhood, speaking in Arabic, confirmed that the protests would go on

"God willing, this Friday the protest will be strong and it will be a million person march and it will send a message to anyone who is trying to falsify the revolution or turn it back, whether the Military Council or anyone else. We are telling them that we will stay in the square until the very last second.

It is believed attacks by Unidentified assailants on protesters camping in Cairo's neighbourhood started clashes that killed 11 people and deepened suspicion that the old regime are trying to derail progress towards democracy. Many of those protesters were hardline Salafi Islamists upset their candidate was ruled out of the vote, which begins on May 23 and 24 with a run-off in June.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which dominates parliament, also saw its first choice disqualified too.