Egyptian state workers took to the streets of Cairo demanding higher pay Monday, prompting the ruling military council to call for an end to further chaos in the capital.

Ambulance drivers, police officers, public transport workers and members of Egypt's Youth and Sports Organization were among the thousands of individuals protesting in Cairo and nearby Giza on Monday.

A statement from the military council called for an end to the latest strikes and protests, so that it can get Egypt back into a normal routine following the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.

The statement said that such demonstrations threaten Egypt's security and prosperity and give "irresponsible parties" an opportunity to commit "illegal acts."

The military took power from Mubarak on Friday, after 18 days of massive anti-government demonstrations in Cairo's Tahrir Square forced the long-time president's resignation.

Mubarak fled the capital and was reported to be staying at his residence in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

But Egypt's U.S. ambassador revealed Monday that the former president may have fallen into ill-health in recent days.

Ambassador Sameh Shoukry told NBC's "Today" show that Mubarak was "possibly in somewhat of bad health."

Shoukry did not provide further information on the ousted president's condition, though two Egyptian newspapers have reported that the 82-year-old Mubarak is depressed and refusing to take medication.

Also Monday, the military council cleared out nearly all remaining protesters who have been camped out in Tahrir Square since the anti-Mubarak protests began in late January.

Cairo slowly returns to normal routines

Despite the wave of labour-related demonstrations on Monday, freelance journalist Jessica Gray said Cairo's business sector was coming back to life, after the recent anti-government protests had left businesses in limbo for nearly three weeks.

"People are really coming back to work, you know, all the taxis are around, the buses and the food-sellers, all the restaurants are open and the banks and schools are opening up again," Gray told CTV's Canada AM during a telephone interview from Cairo on Monday.

Egypt's ruling military council has said its goal is to get Egypt back to normal as quickly as possible, while maintaining security in the country.

On the weekend, the military council dissolved parliament, suspended the Egyptian constitution and the promised to hold elections at a future date.

The powerful military also reached out to the opposition youth movement that helped topple Mubarak and his government.

Protesters Wael Ghonim and Amr Salama were among the youth representatives who met with the military on the weekend.

They posted a message on Facebook about the talks, saying that the military has pledged to "go after corrupt people no matter what their position current or previous."

The youth leaders were encouraged to start political parties and the military said it would meet with those parties regularly.

"We felt a sincere desire to protect the gains of the revolution and an unprecedented respect for the right of young Egyptians to express their opinions," Ghonim said.

Mark Sedra, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, said the Egyptian military should work to include opposition groups in any interim government that may be put together after the dismantling of Mubarak's regime.

"First of all, the military has to reassure the people that it actually is going to hand over power, it has tried to do that in various statements," Sedra said in an interview from Kitchener, Ont., on Monday morning.

"But I think it has to even go a step further and reach out to opposition groups to form some sort of interim government that is going to include civilians. It won't just be ruled by decree by the military high command."

When it comes to elections, Sedra said that the military must establish "a clear timetable," so that Egyptians can be reassured that their hard-fought revolution is safe.

With files from The Associated Press