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"We managed to convince many of the employees not to go to work," said Ghada Shahbender, a human rights activist who has been protesting since the start of the January 25 uprising.
Protesters have vowed to stay in the square until the demands of the revolution are met, including an end to military trials of civilians, the dismissal and prosecution of police officers accused of murder and torture -- before and after the revolution -- and open trials of former regime officials.
After nearly two weeks of mounting tension marked by clashes with police, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf on Saturday pledged to meet the demands of the protesters with a series of measures.
Sharaf said he "issued direct orders to the interior minister to stop all police officers accused of killing protesters from working," in an address broadcast on state television.
He also "ordered the creation of a panel to review the trials (of those accused of) killing protesters and of corruption as soon as possible," without waiting until after the judicial summer recess.
The premier said he has asked the social solidarity ministry to look into the portfolios of health, education, and salaries and pensions.
But the speech was slammed as empty rhetoric with vague promises and no deadlines, with many activists accusing the prime minister of being too weak in the face of the ruling military council.
"We are still asking for no military rule of the country, and no pressure from the military on the judiciary and the media," said human rights activist Dina Mohammed, 24.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took power after Mubarak stepped down, has angered protesters who accuse it of using Mubarak-era methods to stifle dissent.
The prime minister "only responded to one demand," said Riham Abdel Salam, 23, a student of film, referring to the sacking of police officers accused of murder.
On the outskirts of Cairo, around 300 protesters briefly cut off the main highway linking the capital to the canal city of Suez, threatening more measures if the demands of the revolution are not met, a security official said.
The state news agency MENA said the army later cleared the road, removing the demonstrators and their barricades without any casualties reported.
But the economic impact of the renewed protests and political tensions was felt as Egypt stocks fell 1.67 percent on Sunday, with the main EGX-30 index closing at 5270.86 points.
In contrast, Suez Canal revenues were up 12.6 percent in the first six months of 2011, compared to the first half of last year, reaching 2.54 billion dollars, the canal authority announced on Sunday.
Dozens of former regime officials, including ministers and a handful of police officers, are currently on trial on charges ranging from corruption to murder.
Mubarak himself, who is in custody in a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, is to face trial along with his two sons Alaa and Gamal on August 3.
But protesters have criticised the handling of the legal proceedings, demanding a transparent and thorough process for the sake of justice, not revenge.
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Protesters have vowed to stay in the square until the demands of the revolution are met, including an end to military trials of civilians, the dismissal and prosecution of police officers accused of murder and torture -- before and after the revolution -- and open trials of former regime officials.
After nearly two weeks of mounting tension marked by clashes with police, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf on Saturday pledged to meet the demands of the protesters with a series of measures.
Sharaf said he "issued direct orders to the interior minister to stop all police officers accused of killing protesters from working," in an address broadcast on state television.
He also "ordered the creation of a panel to review the trials (of those accused of) killing protesters and of corruption as soon as possible," without waiting until after the judicial summer recess.
The premier said he has asked the social solidarity ministry to look into the portfolios of health, education, and salaries and pensions.
But the speech was slammed as empty rhetoric with vague promises and no deadlines, with many activists accusing the prime minister of being too weak in the face of the ruling military council.
"We are still asking for no military rule of the country, and no pressure from the military on the judiciary and the media," said human rights activist Dina Mohammed, 24.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took power after Mubarak stepped down, has angered protesters who accuse it of using Mubarak-era methods to stifle dissent.
The prime minister "only responded to one demand," said Riham Abdel Salam, 23, a student of film, referring to the sacking of police officers accused of murder.
On the outskirts of Cairo, around 300 protesters briefly cut off the main highway linking the capital to the canal city of Suez, threatening more measures if the demands of the revolution are not met, a security official said.
The state news agency MENA said the army later cleared the road, removing the demonstrators and their barricades without any casualties reported.
But the economic impact of the renewed protests and political tensions was felt as Egypt stocks fell 1.67 percent on Sunday, with the main EGX-30 index closing at 5270.86 points.
In contrast, Suez Canal revenues were up 12.6 percent in the first six months of 2011, compared to the first half of last year, reaching 2.54 billion dollars, the canal authority announced on Sunday.
Dozens of former regime officials, including ministers and a handful of police officers, are currently on trial on charges ranging from corruption to murder.
Mubarak himself, who is in custody in a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, is to face trial along with his two sons Alaa and Gamal on August 3.
But protesters have criticised the handling of the legal proceedings, demanding a transparent and thorough process for the sake of justice, not revenge.
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