Egyptian security forces and protesters have clashed for a fifth day in Cairo, despite concessions from the ruling military that were designed to ease the unrest.

Activists say the clashes the past week have left at least 35 people dead, including at least one person killed on Wednesday.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged Egyptian authorities to end what she called “clearly excessive force against protesters.” In a Wednesday statement, she called images of the “brutal beatings” of “subdued protesters” “deeply shocking.”

On Tuesday, the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, pledged to speed the transition to civilian rule, with a presidential election before July 2012.

Tantawi suggested he would be willing to consider holding a referendum on whether military rule should end earlier.

He also said he had accepted the resignation of the civilian Cabinet of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf but that it will remain in place until a new government is formed.

But tens of thousands of protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square rejected the steps as insufficient. They want the military to relinquish power now.

Parliamentary elections are set to begin on Monday and Tantawi pledged the polls would go forward as planned. But many opposition leaders believe that to be increasingly doubtful.

In another apparent concession to demonstrators, the military council earlier issued a law that bans anyone convicted of corruption from running for office or holding a government position. The move could restrict members of ex-president Hosni Mubarak's former ruling party from competing in the upcoming elections.

Amnesty International on Tuesday accused Egypt's rulers of brutality sometimes exceeding that of Mr. Mubarak.

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