Egypt gives the boot to hundreds of police officers

Cairo (CNN) -- Hundreds of high-ranking Egyptian police officers have been fired, a purge stemming from the January violence that led to the dramatic departure of the country's president.

Interior Ministry spokesman Alla Mahmoud said 505 generals and 82 brigadiers were dismissed Wednesday, with 27 of them accused of killing protesters.

More than 840 people were killed during the unrest, known as the January 25 revolution.

Reforming police and punishing those who harmed demonstrators are key demands of the protesters camping out at Cairo's Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the uprising against then-President Hosni Mubarak and his government.

Monday, Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf called for the trials of former officials accused of killing protesters to be open to the public. Those comments came two days after he addressed the nation, ordering the termination of all officers accused of killing protesters during the uprising that ousted Mubarak.These developments emerged amid citizen anger at the slow pace of reform since Mubarak resigned February 11.

A group called the January 25 Coalition, named for the day anti-government protests began this year, has said its members will stay in the square until their demands are met.

Protesters have been camped out there for weeks, and many brought TV sets, laptops, books, sleeping bags and clothes with them, suggesting they plan to stay for the long haul. Traffic around the square has been blocked.

The coalition's demands include economic reform, the immediate resignation of the interior minister, speedy trials of former officers and the end of military tribunals.

The military-led government that took over when Mubarak resigned has been prosecuting several former officials accused of ordering security forces to fire on protesters.

Mubarak himself is scheduled to face the Cairo Criminal Court on August 3 on charges of corruption and counts related to the deaths of protesters, officials have said.

Egypt's military rulers have scheduled parliamentary elections for September.

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