Sean Penn joins protesters in Egypt

Sean Penn was among the demonstrators at a protest in Egypt on Friday calling for a faster transition to democracy.

The two-time Oscar winner arrived in north Africa at the invitation of Egyptian film star Khaled El Nabawy as part of efforts to show the country is once again safe for tourists following the revolution earlier this year that overthrew the regime of president Hosni Mubarak.

The rallies in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the centre for protests that forced Mubarak out of office in February, were held under the slogan Reclaiming the Revolution.

Protesters are calling on the country's military leaders for earlier elections – currently planned for 28 November, two months later than promised after Mubarak's fall – and the repeal of emergency laws added to the statute book under the dictator that gave security forces powers to detain citizens and hold them in custody.

Penn was quoted on the live blog of the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram as saying: "The world is inspired by the call for freedom by the courageous revolution of Egypt for its freedom. Clearly that is not a completion overnight, there are still struggles forward, there are constitutional issues, there is … a transition of power from the military to the people. So in solidarity with our brave Egyptian brothers we are here to support their freedom."

Penn is well known for his political activism. Last month it was revealed he played an active role in the release of the American hikers held by authorities in Iran on spying charges. The actor flew to Venezuela and succeeded in convincing president Hugo Chávez, whom he has met on a number of occasions, to approach Tehran.