"Opposition figures praised the moves as important first steps toward free elections but urged further measures to sweep away Mubarak's old guard. Some expressed alarm at an aborted effort by the military early Sunday to clear Tahrir Square of remaining protesters. They also criticized a decision by the military rulers to leave Mubarak's cabinet in place. "By no means can they concentrate on fixing the problems and investigating what happened under the former regime, because they are the ones responsible," said Alaa al Aswany, an Egyptian novelist and democracy activist."