Egypt’s new military leadership took firmer control of the country on Sunday but also sought to reassure Egyptians of its commitment to a democratic transition by dissolving parliament and promising elections in six months.

In its first major move since the youth-led revolution toppled Hosni Mubarak on Friday, the supreme council of the military, now the ruler of the land, set a timetable for the transition and said a committee would be appointed to examine constitutional amendments, meeting some – but not all – of the demands of the protesters.

By maintaining the government brought in by Mr Mubarak before his removal, it damped hopes that it would create a presidential council, as many opposition figures had advised. Instead, Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, head of the council and defence minister, will be Egypt’s face, representing the country abroad.,