Opponents of President Mohamed Morsi scuffled with his supporters yesterday during a demonstration that posed the first test of the Islamist leader's popularity on the street.

In Cairo's Tahrir Square, rival groups of youths hurled stones and bottles at each other, staging running battles in side streets.

Dozens also scuffled in Ismailiya, east of Cairo, a witness said.

Activists behind the anti-Morsi protest accuse him of seeking to monopolise power after he took back rights that the military council, which had ruled Egypt for a year and a half after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, had sought to retain for itself.

Reuters