Major protests are underway in Cairo and several other cities in Egypt against the government as Egyptian army says that it will act as the guarantor of reforms, including free and fair presidential elections, promised by President Hosni Mubarak.The country's military high command vowed today in its communiqu’ on state television that they will lift the state of emergency once the current crisis is over, implement the necessary constitutional amendments and ensure all the demands of the protesters are met to a peaceful transition of power. Expressing the need to resume orderly work in the government installations and a return to normal life, the army also assured the protesters that they will not be persecuted by the army when the crisis is over.While protesters fanned out to the presidential palace in Cairo and other key symbols of the regime in a new push to force the leader to step down immediately, soldiers took no action to stop demonstrators from massing outside the palace and the headquarters of state television, indicating they were trying to avoid another outbreak of violence.Earlier President Hosni Mubarak announced that he will not resign from the post but hand over his powers to Vice President Omar Suleiman. The details of these delegated powers remain unclear.Addressing the nation on national television last night, President Mubarak also announced that the relevant article of the constitution is being scrapped for clearing the way for the lifting of emergency laws. Speaking in Patriotic tone, President Mubarak said that he will not be dictated by outside powers and committed to fulfill the demands of the people. Mubarak also promised to penalize those who committed mistakes. President Mubarak reiterated his commitment not to contest next election and referred the setting up of committees constituted to amend the constitution and monitor it. He added that the blood of those who were killed would not be wasted.Political activist Mohamed ElBaradei has said that Egypt's leadership is in total chaos and he has again called on President Hosni Mubarak to make way for a government of national unity. US President Barack Obama says the Egyptian government has yet to put forward a credible, concrete and unequivocal path to democracy. Obama said too many Egyptians remain unconvinced that the government is serious about a genuine transition to democracy.