Former United States President Jimmy Carter says he does not belive the Egyptian military will give up all of its powers to an elected civilian government soon.

Mr. Carter tells the Reuters news agency that an abrupt change in the totality of military authority this year is more than can be expected. He says he military wants to keep as much control as possible.

Mr. Carter says there must be permanent limits on the military written into a new Egyptian constitution.

The former American president was in Cairo this week to help monitor the third and last round of parliamentary elections — the first such elections in Egypt since a popular uprising toppled Hosni Mubarak last year.

Thousands of Egyptians have protested against the transitional military government in recent months, accusing it of trying to put off moves towards a civilian administration.

A number of demonstrators have been killed and scenes of Egyptian police beating and dragging women through the streets have enraged millions worldwide.