CAIRO (AFP) - Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq resigned unexpectedly Thursday, sparking celebrations from protesters who demand a purge of the remnants of ousted president Hosni Mubaraks regime. The countrys military rulers said he would be replaced by Essam Sharaf, a former transport minister who joined the rallies in Cairos Tahrir Square that led to Mubaraks resignation on February 11. Strongman Mubarak appointed Shafiq in the dying days of his rule in a bid to quell the protests. Shafiq stayed on as head of a caretaker government under a military council that has run Egypt since Mubarak stood down. The Supreme Council of Military Forces announces that it has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, the council said in a statement, without giving reasons for the move. Dozens of youth activists who are still camped out in Tahrir Square celebrated after Shafiqs resignation was announced, the state news agency MENA reported. Since the fall of Mubarak, protesters have continued to call for a replacement of the current government, which includes the Mubarak-era foreign minister, interior minister and justice minister. They had put forward Sharafs name during talks with the military on Sunday during which they also called for rapid, profound changes towards democracy.