The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces is considering releasing a new communique within hours in response to sit-ins in Tahrir Square and across the country, an informed source has told Ahram Online. It is not clear yet whether the statement will be published on the military council's Facebook page or will be read out by one of its members on state TV.

Prime Minister Essam Sharaf gave a short statement yesterday evening that intended to ease the tense atmosphere Egypt has been witnessing in the last two weeks. Sharaf's words, however, were ill-received positively by the protesters who have since called for a general strike in the coming days.

The military council are yet to respond to the demands put foward by the protesters and directed the interim rulers, not the government.

The General Freedoms Committee, which is part of the National Consensus Conference sponsored by the government, announced today that it supports the demands of the protesters, confirming that it agreed on the drafting of a new constitution, the formation of a civilian presidential council and an advisory council with civilian and military members.

According to MENA, Egypt's state news agency, Mohamed Fadaly, the head of the committee, announced that General Sami Enan, the Egyptian army's chief of staff, has commissioned the General Freedoms Committee to draft a new constitution.