Egyptian police fire tear gas to end clashes in Cairo

CAIRO - Reuters

One of the supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi protesting against the government hold up a national flag and a flag with his picture in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Dec 6, 2013. AP Photo/Amr Nabil

Egyptian police used tear gas Dec. 6 to end clashes in Cairo between supporters and opponents of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, the state news agency MENA said.

Morsi's supporters have been staging protests almost daily in many towns and cities across Egypt since the army deposed him on July 3 in response to mass protests against him.

The Cairo clashes took place in the well-to-do district of Mohandeseen, when a march by Brotherhood supporters came face-to-face with an opposing crowd.

The Morsi supporters were holding placards showing the four-finger logo of solidarity with those killed when security forces razed pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo last August.

"Down, down with military rule!" the protesters chanted.

Similar pro-Brotherhood protests were staged in other parts of Cairo along with the Suez Canal cities of Suez and Port Said. Most of the protests set off from mosques after Friday's noon prayers.

The police arrested eight pro-Brotherhood protesters in Cairo for "inciting riots", the state run Al-Ahram news website said.

Two weeks ago a new law was promulgated that banned protests near or originating from places of worship, and made it compulsory to seek Interior Ministry permission for protests.

A ministry official said no such request had been filed for Friday's protests.

Around 180 Brotherhood protesters were arrested during similar protests last Friday. On Thursday, three prominent liberal political activists were ordered to stand trial for staging protests without permission.

Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands arrested since Morsi was deposed and the army installed an interim president and government in his place.