Activists in Egypt are planning a day of strikes to mark the first anniversary of President Hosni Mubarak's overthrow.

The new action comes after a series of protests calling for the country's military leaders to hand over power.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took power when Mubarak stepped down last February, said it would not "bow to threats, nor succumb to pressures" to accelerate the transition to civilian rule.

On Friday, thousands of Egyptians marched to the defense ministry in the capital, Cairo.

Egypt's military rulers have promised to stage a presidential election by June to complete a democratic transition to civilian rule.  The ruling military also held a phased parliamentary election that led to last month's formation of a new assembly dominated by Islamist parties.