Public Holiday Gives Egypt’s Rulers More Time to Implement Reforms

Egyptians have another day off work Monday, as the country’s new military leaders lay out their plans for the future.

Egypt's military rulers called a public holiday Monday, amid strikes by some state workers demanding new freedoms after President Hosni Mubarak's ouster.

Former protester Gihan Mohamed says people are worried about the economy.

"This is a step forward, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us," he said. "The losses that the country has faced economically and the damages it went through, it's going to take a while for us to come back from it, but hopefully we will."

The military has dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution and said it would rule only six months, until elections are held. Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq said most current ministers would stay until then.

Shafiq says Egypt's normal way of life must be restored, along with a feeling of security that was lost in recent weeks.  He says insecurity is ending, athough not at the pace it should.