Egypt Feature: Clashes in Cairo

Protesters in Tahrir Square on Tuesday night (Photo: Ed Ou for The New York Times)

In the Egyptian capital Cairo, there were running clashes overnight between security forces and thousands of protesters, injuring dozens.

Live Stream Videos from Cairo last night and this morning

The wider context is a sit-in, including families of those killed during the uprising against President Mubarak, which started outside the State TV building last week. There have been skirmishes with security forces, who reportedly tried to clear the sit-in yesterday.

Other protesters had gathered Tuesday morning to mark Sunday's death of Mahmoud Khalid Qutb, who passed away months after he was run over by a Central Security Forces personnel carrier. The demonstrators called for the overthrow of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

Protesters regrouped Tuesday night outside the Ministry of Interior, where two demonstrators wounded earlier in the day were said to have been taken. Fighting broke out, as protesters threw stones and security forces fired tear gas and blocked off streets.

In another flash-point incident, some of the families tried to attend an honorary celebration of martyrs at Ballon Theater. One activist reported that when some were denied entry, there was scuffles with theatre security; a journalist says the families were confronted by a pro-Mubarak group. Police then intervened.

The clashes moved to nearby Tahrir Square, the symbolic centre of the rising against the Mubarak regime. Central security troops in riot gear sealed off the main streets leading into the square, while dozens of security vehicles were stationed in side streets. Protesters chanted: "Down with the military junta," as injured demonstrators lay on the ground.

Tahrir Square(Photo: Dima Dhatib)