Presidential hopeful Mohamed ElBaradei called for a trenchant response to the government’s failure to meet the Egyptian revolution’s demands.

Protesters on Friday started an open-ended sit-in in Cairo and Suez to call for speedier trials of police officers and former officials implicated in killing protesters during the 25 January revolution. The protesters also demand that the trials be public.

Thay also want the Interior Ministry restructured and institutions purged of officials loyal to former president Hosni Mubarak.

On Twitter, ElBaradei said the gap between the people and the rulers is widening, and added that there is a need for a clear and outright response to the demands of revolutionaries.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf gave a televised address on Saturday to announce measures in response to the demands of protesters. According to observers, Sharaf seemed frustrated while giving the address.

Media reports say that Sharaf does not fully control his cabinet, and that when he requested the removal of seven ministers the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) refused.

Observers say Sharaf, who has a good reputation, is incapable of making firm decisions because he is obliged to get approval from the SCAF.

Several protesters criticized Sharaf’s statement on social network websites. They said it did not respond to several of their demands, including “cleansing” the media and police apparatus and halting military trials of civilians.