Tens of thousands of protesters packed Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday, in the biggest demonstration in months against the ruling military, aimed at stepping up pressure on the generals to hand over power to civilians and bar ex-regime members from running in the forthcoming presidential elections.

Both Islamists and liberals turned out in force for the protest, to show their widespread anger at the military over the country's political chaos ahead of the first presidential elections since the fall of Hosni Mubarak more than a year ago.

The confusion has raised suspicions that the generals ruling since Mubarak's removal are manipulating the process to preserve their power, ensure the victory of a pro-military candidate and prevent reform.