Egypt to Vote as Planned Despite Unrest: Military

Despite 40 deaths and widening protests, the military council won't step down before election results are in.

Egypt's ruling military council vowed to carry out elections as planned starting next week, but said it would not bow to protester demands and step down immediately. Ongoing protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square and elsewhere have led to 40 deaths, marking the worst spate of violence in Egypt since Hosni Mubarak resigned earlier this year. The protesters have been calling on the military council to hasten reforms and step down to make way for democratic rule. While the military council apologized (over Facebook) for the deaths of the 40 "martyrs," many of the protesters aren't buying the council's promise to step aside once the elections, slated to begin Monday, create a new, democratic government. Egypt's Interior Ministry had attempted to have the elections delayed due to the unrest, as they feared that they wouldn't be able to guarantee voter safety if ballots were cast next week. Protesters are promising a "day of rage" tomorrow after Friday prayers.