Egypt is entering the next stage of its transition with parliamentary elections, the first since massive street protests forced former President Hosni Mubarak to resign in February.

The complex, staggered polls to elect parliament's lower house begin Monday and conclude in early January. Elections for the upper house end in March, after which the newly elected assembly will write a new constitution.

However, the outcome is likely to be viewed as suspect given the growing unrest and the suspension of many candidates' campaigns in solidarity with the protesters.

The head of the ruling military council, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi said Sunday the country is at a crossroads and can choose either successful elections “leading Egypt towards safety” or face dangerous hurdles that the armed forces “will not allow.”

He also warned of “extremely grave” consequences if the country's current political turmoil does not end quickly.

Tantawi's warning came as thousands of demonstrators filled Cairo's Tahrir Square for another massive protest Sunday demanding that Egypt's military immediately cede power to a “national salvation government” that would run the country until a president is elected.

A number of the revolutionary youth groups leading the protests have proposed that opposition leader and Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei head an interim civilian administration with deputies from across the political spectrum. The proposed body would replace the ruling military council in supervising Egypt's transition to democracy.

ElBaradei said Saturday he would abandon his bid for Egypt's presidency if formally asked to lead such a government.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces held talks Saturday with ElBaradei and another presidential hopeful, former Arab League chief Amr Moussa. Both said only that they discussed ways to end the current crisis.

The meetings came as nearly 10,000 people packed central Cairo to continue protests against Egypt's interim military rulers and the appointment of caretaker Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri, a bureaucrat seen as serving the military council.

Security forces fired tear gas at stone-throwing demonstrators.