Thousands of protesters in Tahrir Square welcomed an army press release on Monday which granted political rivals 48 hours to reach consensus before it announces a roadmap for the future. 

Egypt's state news agency MENA reported that upon the announcement, protesters in the square applauded and praised the army’s stance, chanting against Islamist President Mohamed Mursi. 

Mursi’s opponents staged mass demonstrations on Sunday to push for a no-confidence vote against him and call for early presidential elections, exactly a year after the Islamist president was sworn into office.

Five ministers submitted their resignations to Prime Minister Hisham Kandil's cabinet earlier on Monday. 

Confrontations in light of Sunday's mass protests left 16 people dead and hundreds injured.