Dubai: Police in the Egyptian city of Alexandria fired tear gas at protesters and youth fought police in Cairo as nationwide rallies marked the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.
Offices used by the Muslim Brotherhood’s political party were set ablaze in Esmailia, reports said.
A group of youths had first broken into and ransacked the offices used by the Freedom and Justice Party, the Brotherhood’s political arm, before setting them on fire.
Clashes erupted in two neighbourhoods of Alexandria between police and protesters who burned tyres. Clashes also broke out in the canal city of Suez after protesters tried to storm the governorate headquarters before being pushed back by police, who fired heavy tear gas, witnesses said.
Protesters hurled rocks at police and burnt tyres in the road.
In Cairo, army and police forces were deployed to protect the information ministry which also houses state television and radio, after protesters briefly blocked traffic outside the building, witnesses said.
Tens of thousands took to the streets across the country to protest against Islamist President Mohammad Mursi, who is accused of failing to work for the goals of the revolution that ousted Mubarak and consolidating power in the hands of his powerful Muslim Brotherhood.
With inputs from agencies